Faecal microbiota and serum metabolome association with equine metabolic syndrome in connemara ponies.
Authors: Al-Ansari Ahmed Saleh, Duggan Vivienne, Mulcahy Grace, Yin Xiaofei, Brennan Lorraine, Cotter Paul D, Patel Shriram H, O'Donovan Ciara M, Crispie Fiona, Walshe Nicola
Journal: BMC veterinary research
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Faecal Microbiota and Serum Metabolome in Equine Metabolic Syndrome Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) represents a significant welfare and performance concern in the UK and Ireland, yet its underlying pathophysiology remains incompletely understood. Researchers compared faecal microbiota composition and serum metabolite profiles between 15 Connemara ponies diagnosed with EMS (via oral sugar test) and 15 metabolically normal controls, using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to generate comprehensive microbiota and metabolomic datasets that were subsequently integrated through multi-omics analysis. The study identified distinct differences in faecal microbial communities and serum metabolite patterns between EMS-affected and healthy ponies, with specific associations emerging between particular bacterial taxa and circulating metabolites implicated in glucose regulation and metabolic dysfunction. These findings suggest that dysbiosis may contribute directly to the metabolic derangements characterised by EMS, potentially offering new targets for dietary and probiotic interventions. For practitioners managing susceptible breeds like Connemaras, understanding these microbiota-metabolome relationships could support more evidence-based nutritional strategies and microbiome-directed therapies to prevent or mitigate metabolic disease, particularly in high-risk animals identified through routine screening.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Microbiota composition may be an additional biomarker to consider when evaluating metabolically compromised ponies alongside traditional diagnostic tests like the OST
- •Understanding the microbiota-metabolome relationship in EMS could inform future dietary or probiotic interventions, though clinical application requires further validation
- •These findings support investigating gut health as part of a comprehensive approach to managing EMS in susceptible breeds like Connemaras
Key Findings
- •Faecal microbiota composition differs significantly between EMS-affected and metabolically normal Connemara ponies
- •Serum metabolite patterns show distinct profiles associated with EMS status following oral sugar challenge
- •Multi-omics integration reveals specific associations between microbial taxa and serum metabolites in EMS-affected ponies
- •Oral sugar test (OST) successfully differentiated EMS cases from controls in this pony population