Psyllium supplementation is associated with changes in the fecal microbiota of horses
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BMC Research Notes Open Access
RESEARCH NOTE
Psyllium supplementation is associated with changes in the fecal microbiota of horses Michael J. Mienaltowski* , Ashley Belt, John D. Henderson, Tannah N. Boyd, Nicole Marter, Elizabeth A. Maga and Edward J. DePeters
Abstract Objective: Prophylactic supplementation of psyllium husk is recommended to enhance passage of ingested sand from the gastrointestinal tracts of horses. We hypothesized that psyllium supplementation would increase fecal sand passage and favorably alter bacterial populations in the hindgut. Six yearlings and six mature mares were fed a psyllium supplement in the diet daily for seven days. Voluntarily-voided feces were collected over the course of 29 days, prior, during, and after treatment. Feces were analyzed for acid detergent fiber (ADF) and acid detergent insoluble ash analyses. Microbial DNA was also isolated, and the V4 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene was PCR-amplified and sequenced using MiSeq technology. Results: Fecal ADF concentration was greater in adults while silica concentration was greater in yearlings. Mature mare fecal ADF decreased during and just after supplementation but thereafter increased. No changes in silica levels were noted in either group over time. Fecal microbial population phylogenetic diversity was greatest mid-supplementation and lowest at 11 days post-supplementation. Functional profiles of the microbial communities presented some benefits for psyllium supplementation. These findings provide compelling evidence for further detailed studies of prophylactic psyllium supplementation. Keywords: Psyllium, Silica, Fecal microbiota, Acid detergent fiber, Acid detergent insoluble ash, Equine Introduction Sand enteropathy is a prominent form of colic in which sand accumulates in the large colon of horses living in environments rich in sandy soil. Treatments for sand enteropathy include intravenous or oral fluids and the administration of laxatives like magnesium sulfate, mineral oil, and psyllium to promote the evacuation of sand from a horse’s GIT [1, 2]. Husk from the Plantago ovata plant is considered an effective prophylactic dietary supplement as approximately 50–60% of husk mass creates a hydrocolloid gel that increases fecal output which could push sand out of the GIT [3]. Moreover, formulations of psyllium adhere to sand [4]. Psyllium also has intestinal *Correspondence: [email protected] Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, 2251 Meyer Hall, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, USA
anti-inflammatory and stimulatory gut motility properties in rodents and rabbits [5, 6]. Veterinarians often recommend the supplementation of psyllium because they believe that it, along with other products, could help to ameliorate the symptoms of sand enteropathy [2]. Since horses are hindgut fermenters, GI microbes play essential roles in the catabolism of complex food compounds, particularly fibrolytic bacteria fermenting structural carbohydrates of the plant cell wall of forages [7]. Commensal
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