Exploring the distinctive characteristics of gut microbiota across different horse breeds and ages using metataxonomics.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Gut microbiota exerts a pivotal function in host nutrient metabolism and maturation of the mucosal immunity. Analyzing the reciprocal interaction between horses and gut microbiota constitutes a crucial aspect of scientific feeding practices. This study aims to investigate the differences in gut microbiota among Hequ horses, Mongolian horses, and Thoroughbred horses, as well as between Thoroughbred horses at two age stages.

Methods and results

Paired-end sequencing with a read length of 2×250 bp targeting the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene in fecal samples was carried out. Subsequently, differences in the diversity, composition, and metabolic pathways of the gut microbiota among the groups were analyzed. The results showed that: (1) Horse breeds were associated

SUBMITTER: Qin X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12277257 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature