Animal Applications
Pre- and probiotics in equine practice
Doorn, D. van
Little specific information is available regarding the use of pre- and probiotics in equine applications, despite indications for widespread usage of probiotic applications by equine practitioners and horse owners.
Most equine studies regarding pre- and probiotics have been focussing on yeast (saccheromyces cerevisiae) applications and some addressed prebiotic compounds. Some studies were executed to evaluate the use of probiotics in the prevention of salmonella shedding but none of these researchers observed a probiotic effect. Unfortunately these early studies often did not meet the conditions which have been suggested by Weese (2002) who is considered a key-note speaker in the equine community on this topic.
However, Weese (2002) indicated that a number of indications exist for the use of probiotics in horses, which involve primarily gastrointestinal diseases. Further, Weese (2002) considered probiotics to be an attractive option for the prevention of disease particularly during high risk periods (ie. antibiotic administration, concurrent disease, shipping, outbreaks of foal diarhea). However, the therapeutic use of pre-, pro- and synbiotics is in its infancy and educated decisions regarding the incorporation of these products into a treatment regimen is currently difficult.
Véronique Julliand recently presented a paper entitled ‘Pre- and Probiotics: potentials for equine practice’ at the 3rd European Equine Health and Nutrition Congress. This paper is available for download in the ‘Proceedings 2006’ section of this website. Julliand is an expert in the field of digestion processes & the equine microflora. She is also involved in studies regarding prebiotic and yeast applications for horses. She is head of the ‘Laboratoire de Nutrition des herbivores monogastriques’ from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure D’agronomie (ENESAD).
The main conclusions of this paper are that most zootechnical and clinical effects of pre- and probiotics are based on the impact of these nutritional supplements on the gastrointestinal (GI) microflora. Furthermore, Julliand indicated that through their action, both pre- and probiotics, may probably contribute to animal welfare. Prebiotic compounds may better balance microbial fermentation into various short chain fatty acids, which probably improves intestinal barrier function. As for probiotics, they may prevent the development of pathogens during their passage through the intestinal tract.
Reference
Weese, J.S. 2002. Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics. J. Eq. Vet. Sci.22: 357-360