Caecal microbiota in horses with trigeminal-mediated headshaking
Monica Aleman1, Shara A Sheldon1, Guillaume Jospin2
1Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA.
Veterinary Medicine and Science
|January 21, 2022
Summary
The cecal microbiota of horses with trigeminal-mediated headshaking (TMHS) showed a higher abundance of Methanocorpusculum spp. compared to healthy controls. Further research is needed to understand the role of this finding in equine neuropathic pain.
Area of Science:
- Equine neurology
- Microbiome research
- Veterinary science
Background:
- Trigeminal-mediated headshaking (TMHS) is a neuropathic pain condition in horses with unknown causes.
- The potential role of the gastrointestinal microbiota in TMHS has not been previously studied in affected horses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the cecal microbiota composition between horses diagnosed with TMHS and healthy control horses.
- To investigate potential differences during the active clinical phase of TMHS.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of cecal microbiota from ten castrated horses (five with TMHS, five controls).
- Horses were maintained under identical conditions and fed orchard grass hay.
- Microbiota sequencing was performed using Illumina MiSeq, with samples collected post-euthanasia.
Main Results:
- Cecal microbiota diversity was similar between TMHS and control groups.
- A significant difference was observed in the abundance of Methanocorpusculum spp., which was higher in horses with TMHS.
Conclusions:
- Methanocorpusculum spp. are more abundant in the cecum of horses experiencing TMHS.
- The clinical significance of this finding is currently unknown and may be incidental due to the small sample size.
