Prospecting the intestinal microbiota of horses with acute abdomen

Abstract

Considering that the intestinal microbiota is profoundly modified in certain conditions, especially in gastrointestinal disorders, a better understanding of these changes during equine acute abdomen, with clinical or surgical evolution, may provide perspectives for adoption of new preventive and therapeutic measures. Several studies were carried out in order to determine the microbiome pattern in healthy horse feces. However, there are no studies that demonstrate changes in the microbiota caused by colic of different etiologies. Therefore, it is proposed to carry out a research project, divided into four experimental stages, in order to evaluate the effect of the overload of non-structural carbohydrates, a frequent type of clinical colic, on the intestinal microbiota of horses. Likewise, changes in the microbiota of horses with clinical colic of late resolution will be evaluated, such as compaction of the larger colon, concomitantly evaluating the bacterial translocation to peritoneal fluid, as well as horses with surgical colic, comparatively evaluating the fecal microbiota, intestinal segments and peritoneal fluid, in order to determine the occurrence of bacterial translocation. Also, the effect of antibiotic therapy on the equine microbiota, especially aminoglycosides, a drug routinely used in acute abdomen, will be evaluated. Thus, it will be possible to present a prospective study on the gastrointestinal microbiota of horses with naturally occurring and induced acute abdomen, evaluating the influence of antibiotic therapy, in order to provide information that can be used as prognostic indicators and that will serve as a basis for the development of adjuvant therapies in the recovery of horses with acute abdomen. (AU)