Storage of equine faecal microbiota transplantation solution has minimal impact on major bacterial communities and structure.
Authors: Bell J, Raidal S, Peters A, Hughes K J
Journal: Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Equine FMT Storage Stability Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) offers a targeted therapeutic approach to equine dysbiosis-associated diarrhoea, yet practical guidance on preparation and storage has been limited. Bell and colleagues conducted an in vitro investigation using faecal samples from five healthy donor horses, comparing bacterial community composition across multiple timepoints using 16S rRNA gene sequencing: immediately post-preparation, at 24/48/72 hours at 4°C, and at 7/14/28 days at -20°C. The microbiota composition showed no meaningful shifts in relative abundance or diversity measures between fresh faeces and freshly prepared FMT (P ≥ 0.05), with similarly minimal changes maintained through 72 hours of refrigeration or 28 days of freezing. For practitioners preparing FMT solutions, these findings permit flexibility in clinical workflows: refrigerated solutions remain stable for up to three days, whilst frozen preparations remain viable for up to four weeks, potentially enabling batch preparation, quality control testing, and distribution to multiple facilities without compromising bacterial community structure that underpins therapeutic efficacy.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •FMT solutions can be safely prepared and stored at 4°C for up to 3 days or frozen at -20°C for up to 28 days without losing therapeutic efficacy, providing flexibility in clinical scheduling and batch preparation
- •The stability of FMT during storage means practitioners can prepare solutions in advance or transport them to referral facilities without compromising the microbial composition
- •This in vitro data supports the practical use of FMT as a treatment option for equine diarrhoea and dysbiosis, though clinical efficacy studies are still needed
Key Findings
- •FMT solution preparation had minimal effect on microbiota composition compared to fresh faeces (P ≥ 0.05 for relative abundance, alpha and beta diversity)
- •FMT stored at 4°C for up to 72 hours showed minimal microbiota changes
- •FMT stored at -20°C maintained microbiota stability for up to 28 days
- •Storage conditions do not substantially alter major bacterial communities and structure in equine FMT solutions