Can the gut microbiota of foals impact their health later in life?

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A recent study revealed that the composition of Thoroughbred foals’ gut microbial community during their initial months of life can forecast the risk of certain diseases up to the age of 3 years. The study, published in Scientific Reports, also found that the bacterial community structure of these young racehorses was also a predictor of their future athletic abilities.^1,2

“For the first time, this study demonstrates a relationship between early-life gut bacterial communities and subsequent athletic performance that has implications for athletes of all species including humans,” wrote the authors of the study.¹

In the study, titled ‘Early-life bacterial community structure predicts risk and athletic performance in horses bred for racing,’ researchers from the United Kingdom conducted a longitudinal study of 52 Thoroughbred foals bred for racing. They analyzed the early-life fecal bacterial community structure of these foals at 9 times throughout their first year of life using rRNA gene sequencing from 438 samples. Moreover, each foal's respiratory, gastrointestinal, orthopedic, and soft-tissue health events were monitored from birth until 3 years old. Furthermore, these horses participated in regulated horse races up to 3 years of age, and performance data was collected for every race during this timeframe.

The data showed that foals with lower fecal bacterial diversity at 28, 90, and 365 days of age had a significantly higher risk of developing respiratory disease later in life in addition to soft-tissue and orthopedic-related diseases.^1,2 Specifically, respiratory disease was largely and positively associated with a greater relative abundance of fecal Pseudomonadaceae. Soft-tissue injury or disease were positively associated with the relative abundance of fecal Streptococcaceae at 8 days old and Moraxellaceae at 14 days old. Gastrointestinal illness and disease were linked to a relative abundance of fecal Rikenellaceae at 90 days old.¹

In terms of athletic performance, the study found significant positive correlations between fecal microbial diversity at 28 days old and official ratings, average prize money earnings, and average race placings of these foals.²

“It is unclear why gut microbial communities at 28 days old are so influential on future respiratory health and athletic performance,” wrote study’s authors.¹ “Environmental changes around this time include increasing exposure to pasture (with associated grass and soil microbiota) and an increasing tendance for foals to eat their mother’s diet in addition to suckling. Immunologically, a foal’s passive immunity is waning during the first weeks of life,” they continued.

The study also investigated the impact of exposing foals to antibiotics in their first month of life, with findings revealing antimicrobial treatment has a detrimental impact on horses. The study showed that foals who received antimicrobial treatment during their first month of life had significantly lower fecal bacterial diversity at 28 days old and a significantly higher risk of respiratory disease later in life.^1,2 These participants also had a major decrease in average prize money earnings, which was an indicator of athletic performance.¹

“Our study is the first to demonstrate the impact of early-life gut microbiota. Our findings introduce a new and important concept to the emerging science of sportomics,” the authors stated in the study.¹

References

1. Leng J, Moller-Levet C, Mansergh RI, et al. Early-life gut bacterial community structure predicts disease risk and athletic performance in horses bred for Racing. Scientific Reports. 2024;14(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-64657-6
2. Microbiome diversity predicts risk of disease in young racehorses. News release. American Veterinary Medical Association. August 14, 2024. Accessed August 19, 2024. https://www.avma.org/news/microbiome-diversity-predicts-risk-disease-young-racehorses?utm_source=delivra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=todays-headlines-news