Effect of a probiotic on prevention of diarrhea and Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens shedding in foals.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Up to 60% of foals develop diarrhea within 6 months after birth. Preventive measures are limited but potentially probiotics could be used.

Objective

To evaluate the effect of a newly designed probiotic on the incidence of foal diarrhea in a randomized field trial.

Animals

Seventy-two healthy neonatal foals.

Methods

Randomized, placebo-controlled field trial. Foals were administered a placebo or probiotic for 3 weeks and monitored for an additional week. A total of 3 fecal samples were taken from each foal at biweekly intervals. Statistical modeling was applied for comparison of incidence and duration of diarrhea and fecal shedding of Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium difficile between treatment and age groups.

Results

The overall inciden

SUBMITTER: Schoster A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4895414 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May-Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature