Journal Article

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

Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Bars-Cortina, David, Foury, Aline, European Project: 6655919,P-Sphere, Dhorne-Pollet, Sophie, Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative (GABI) ; AgroParisTech-Université Paris-Saclay-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Mach, Núria, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries = Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), Crisci, Elisa, Lansade, Léa, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Nutrition et Neurobiologie intégrée (NutriNeuro) ; Université de Bordeaux (UB)-Institut Polytechnique de Bordeaux-Ecole nationale supérieure de chimie, biologie et physique-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Physiologie de la reproduction et des comportements [Nouzilly] (PRC) ; Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation [Saumur] (IFCE)-Université de Tours (UT)-Centre National de la Recherche Scient

2020

Overview

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 the microbiability of behaviour traits (> 15%), illustrating the importance of gut microbial composition to animal behaviour. As more elite athletes suffer from stress, targeting the microbiota offers a new opportunity to investigate the bidirectional interactions within the brain gut microbiota axis.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group,CCSD,Nature Publishing Group UK
• Subject: 631/1647/2198 / 631/326 / 631/378 / 631/553 / Animals / Athletes / Behavior, Animal / Biodiversity / Cohort Studies / Environment / Fecal microflora / Feces - microbiology / Female / Gastrointestinal Microbiome - physiology / Gut microbiota / Gut-brain axis / Health Status / Horses / Horses - microbiology / Horses - physiology / Humanities and Social Sciences / Intestinal microflora / Life Sciences / Male / Microbiota / multidisciplinary / Phenotype / Physical Conditioning, Animal / Science / Science (multidisciplinary) / Sports
• ISBN: 0005404626000