Priming for welfare: gut microbiota is associated with equitation conditions and behavior in horse athletes.

ABSTRACT: We simultaneously measured the fecal microbiota and multiple environmental and host-related variables in a cohort of 185 healthy horses reared in similar conditions during a period of eight months. The pattern of rare bacteria varied from host to host and was largely different between two time points. Among a suite of variables examined, equitation factors were highly associated with the gut microbiota variability, evoking a relationship between gut microbiota and high levels of physical and mental stressors. Behavioral indicators that pointed toward a compromised welfare state (e.g. stereotypies, hypervigilance and aggressiveness) were also associated with the gut microbiota, reinforcing the notion for the existence of the microbiota-gut-brain axis. These observations were consistent with

SUBMITTER: Mach N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7239938 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature