Changes of microbiota and metabolome of the equine hindgut during oligofructose-induced laminitis
Authors: Tuniyazi. Maimaiti, Junying He, Jian Guo, Shuang Li, Nai-sheng Zhang, Huei-Sin Hu, Yunhe Fu
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Oligofructose-Induced Laminitis and Hindgut Dysbiosis Whilst laminitis remains a devastating condition in equine practice, our understanding of the pathological cascade linking dietary changes to laminar failure has been incomplete. Maimaiti and colleagues used 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomic profiling to track shifts in faecal microbiota composition and circulating metabolites in horses experimentally challenged with oligofructose—a soluble carbohydrate known to trigger laminitis. Oligofructose administration produced a marked dysbiosis characterised by blooming populations of Lactobacillus and Megasphaera, accompanied by faecal acidification, elevated serum lactic acid and histamine, and increased lipopolysaccharide (LPS) translocation—collectively consistent with compromised hindgut barrier integrity and endotoxaemia. Metabolomic analysis revealed substantial perturbations in 137 compounds, with significant dysregulation of pathways governing steroid hormone synthesis, lipid metabolism, and pyrimidine biosynthesis, whilst correlation analysis implicated the pathogenic bacterial taxa in production of specific metabolites associated with systemic inflammation. These findings provide mechanistic evidence that dysbiosis-driven metabolic derangement may constitute a critical link between feed-related hindgut disturbance and laminar pathology, offering potential targets for biomarker development and preventative nutritional strategies aimed at preserving microbiotal stability in at-risk individuals.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Gut dysbiosis characterized by overgrowth of Lactobacillus and Megasphaera appears central to oligofructose-induced laminitis; managing hindgut fermentation through dietary management may help prevent acute laminitis episodes
- •Elevated serum histamine and LPS suggest increased intestinal permeability during laminitis development; monitoring for signs of hindgut acidosis (behaviour changes, reduced intake) could enable early intervention
- •Consider dietary strategies that promote hindgut stability (appropriate forage quality, limited grain, prebiotics/probiotics) as preventive measures for horses at risk of laminitis
Key Findings
- •Oligofructose treatment increased relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Megasphaera in hindgut microbiota and decreased fecal pH
- •Serum lactic acid, histamine, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels were significantly elevated in laminitis-induced horses
- •Metabolomic analysis identified 84 decreased and 53 increased metabolites, with significant alterations in aldosterone synthesis, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and pyrimidine metabolism pathways
- •Lactobacillus and Megasphaera correlated positively with specific metabolites including dihydrothymine and N3,N4-Dimethyl-L-arginine, suggesting microbiota-metabolite associations in laminitis pathogenesis