athletic performance, according to a new study from the University of Surrey. Foals with lower bacterial diversity at 28 days old were also found to have a significantly increased risk of respiratory disease later in life.
The three-year cohort study explored the interactions between early-life gut bacterial communities, health outcomes in later life, and athletic performance on the racetrack. The findings were published in Scientific Reports.
The study involved analysing 438 faecal samples from 52 foals, tracking their respiratory, gastrointestinal, orthopaedic, and soft-tissue health from birth to three years of age. The researchers also analysed data on race performance, including finishing positions, official ratings, and prize money earnings as measures of athletic performance.
Professor Chris Proudman, Professor of Veterinary Clinical Science at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Surrey, said: "Minimising the risk of disease and injury is important for the welfare of racehorses, and maximising their athletic potential is important for their owners. We have found that gut health, in particular the health of gut bacterial communities very early in life, exerts a profound and enduring impact on racehorse health and performance."
The study found a positive association between athletic performance and higher faecal bacterial diversity at one month old. Specifically, a higher abundance of the bacteria Anaeroplasmataceae was linked to a higher official rating, and increased levels of Bacillaceae at 28 days old were associated with better race placings.
The researchers concluded that the gut bacterial composition in the first months of life influences the risk of specific diseases and athletic performance up to three years old. Foals with lower bacterial diversity at one month old had a significantly higher risk of developing respiratory disease, which was also associated with a higher relative abundance of the bacteria Pseudomonadaceae.
Interestingly, the study revealed that foals treated with antibiotics during their first month of life had significantly lower bacterial diversity at 28 days old compared to those not treated with antibiotics. These foals also earned significantly less prize money and had a higher rate of respiratory disease later in life.
Professor Roberto La Ragione, co-investigator from the School of Bioscience at the University of Surrey, commented, "While antibiotics are essential for treating infections and ensuring the long-term health of foals, their use must be carefully managed. Our study demonstrates that antibiotic treatment can disrupt the gut microbiome with long-term consequences for health and performance. The next phase of our research will focus on minimizing this disruption when antibiotics are necessary."
Additionally, the researchers found that low gut bacterial diversity in early life is associated with an increased risk of soft-tissue and orthopaedic issues later on. They believe these health impacts are likely related to immunological priming, though the underlying reasons for the observed negative effects on racehorse performance are still not fully understood.
Dr. Kirsten Rausing, Chairman of the International Thoroughbred Breeders Federation and study sponsor through her ALBORADA Trust, remarked, "This ground-breaking study has identified the importance of gut health in our very young foals. As breeders, if we can get this right, we will produce foals that will be healthier, and that will grow into more successful racehorses."
Ongoing research aims to develop novel probiotics to enhance foal gut health in early life and to investigate how antibiotics can be used while preserving gut health.
The researchers conclude: “For the first time, this study demonstrates a relationship between early-life gut bacterial communities and subsequent athletic performance that has implications for athletes of all species including humans.”
For more details, see:
Early-life gut bacterial community structure predicts disease risk and athletic performance in horses bred for racing
J. Leng, C. Moller-Levet, R. I. Mansergh, R. O’Flaherty, R. Cooke, P. Sells, C. Pinkham,O. Pynn, C. Smith, Z. Wise, R. Ellis, A. Couto Alves, R. La Ragione and C. Proudman
Scientific Reports (2024) vol 14, Article number: 17124
No comments:
Post a Comment