Changes in the faecal bacterial microbiota during hospitalisation of horses with colic and the effect of different causes of colic.
Authors: Stewart Holly L, Pitta Dipti, Indugu Nagaraju, Vecchiarelli Bonnie, Hennessy Meagan L, Engiles Julie B, Southwood Louise L
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary Hospitalisation for colic triggers measurable shifts in faecal bacterial diversity, with horses experiencing longer pre-admission colic duration (≥60 hours) demonstrating significantly reduced species richness and Shannon diversity compared to those affected for less than 60 hours. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing on faecal samples collected at admission, day 1, and day 3/discharge from 17 colic cases, researchers identified progressive decline in bacterial diversity over the hospitalisation period alongside distinct bacterial community compositions based on both colic duration and anatomical lesion location (small intestinal versus large colon). Notably, horses with extended colic duration and large colon involvement harboured substantially different bacterial populations than those with acute small intestinal disease, suggesting that colic aetiology—not simply the disease state itself—shapes microbiotal changes. These findings carry implications for post-operative management and recovery expectations, as the degree of microbiotal disruption may correlate with lesion severity and duration; clinicians might consider the timeline and location of colic when counselling owners on recovery trajectories and potential probiotic or dietary interventions during hospitalisation. Larger prospective studies examining the relationship between these microbiotal changes and clinical outcomes would strengthen evidence-based approaches to supporting gastrointestinal health during and after colic treatment.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Prolonged colic (≥60 hours) causes measurable disruption to faecal microbiota diversity; this microbiota shift may warrant targeted nutritional or probiotic support during recovery
- •The type and location of colic lesion (large colon vs small intestine) produces different bacterial community changes, suggesting lesion-specific pathophysiology that could inform post-operative management strategies
- •Microbiota continues to change through day 3 post-admission; monitoring and supportive care during this critical window may improve recovery outcomes
Key Findings
- •Species richness decreased significantly from hospital admission to day 3/discharge (P < 0.05)
- •Horses with colic duration ≥60 hours had lower species richness (P = 0.005) and Shannon diversity (P = 0.02) compared to <60 hours
- •Bacterial community composition differed significantly based on colic duration (P = 0.001) and lesion location (P = 0.006)
- •Horses with large colon lesions and prolonged colic (≥60 h) demonstrated distinct bacterial populations compared to small intestinal lesions and shorter duration colic