Equine faecal microbiota transplant: Current knowledge, proposed guidelines and future directions

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Gastroenterology
• Microbiome Research

Background:

• Faecal microbiota transplant (FMT) is a well-established therapy for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in humans.
• Interest in FMT for veterinary applications, particularly in horses, is growing.
• Limited data exists on FMT's efficacy for equine gastrointestinal disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the potential indications and efficacy of FMT for gastrointestinal disorders in horses.
• To provide expert opinion on case selection and FMT procedures in the absence of extensive research.
• To highlight the need for further research into FMT for equine health.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on FMT in human and veterinary medicine.
• Analysis of anecdotal reports of FMT use in horses.
• Formulation of expert opinion on clinical application and future research directions.

Main Results:

• FMT may be beneficial for selected cases of acute and chronic diarrhea and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in horses.
• Expert opinion suggests FMT is a viable option for specific equine gastrointestinal conditions.
• Current evidence is insufficient to define optimal FMT protocols for horses.

Conclusions:

• FMT holds potential as a therapeutic option for equine gastrointestinal diseases.
• Further research is crucial to determine efficacy, indications, and best practices for FMT in horses.
• Standardized protocols for preparation, storage, and delivery of FMT in horses are required.