Diversity of the fecal microbiota in Chinese ponies.
Authors: Lv Shipeng, Zhang Yanli, Zhang Zhengkai, Meng Sihan, Pu Yabin, Liu Xuexue, Liu Lingling, Ma Yuehui, Liu Wujun, Jiang Lin
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Diversity of the Fecal Microbiota in Chinese Ponies Chinese pony breeds—including DeBa, NiQi, and GuZh horses—have received little scientific attention regarding their gut microbiota composition, despite the critical role microbial communities play in equine growth and health. Researchers analysed 118 faecal samples using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and applied alpha and beta diversity analyses, alongside LEfSe (Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size) to identify breed-specific microbial biomarkers and correlate bacterial genera with physical traits. NiQi ponies demonstrated the most abundant and diverse microbial profiles, whilst DeBa ponies showed greater microbial similarity to NiQi ponies than to GuZh horses; significantly, six bacterial genera (Streptococcus, Treponema, Coprococcus, Prevotella, Phascolarctobacterium, and Mogibacterium) correlated strongly with horse height (P < 0.01), suggesting a genotype–microbiota link. For practitioners managing Chinese pony breeds, these findings establish a microbial baseline that could inform nutritional interventions, feeding strategies, and disease prevention protocols tailored to breed-specific gastrointestinal profiles—particularly valuable for optimising health outcomes where breed-level microbiota data has previously been absent.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Different pony breeds have distinct gut microbiota profiles that may influence nutritional management strategies and susceptibility to gastrointestinal issues
- •Height-associated bacterial variations suggest breed-specific feeding protocols may optimize digestive health and performance
- •Understanding breed-specific microbiota composition provides a foundation for targeted disease prevention and health management programs in Chinese pony populations
Key Findings
- •NiQi ponies demonstrated the most abundant and diverse gut microbiota by alpha diversity analysis
- •DeBa and NiQi ponies had similar microbiota composition, while GuZh horses showed distinct bacterial biomarkers including Treponema and Blautia
- •Six bacterial genera (Streptococcus, Treponema, Coprococcus, Prevotella, Phascolarctobacterium, Mogibacterium) showed significant associations with horse height (P<0.01)
- •DeBa ponies and NiQi ponies shared similar microbiota functional capacity despite breed differences