Microbiome diversity predicts risk of disease in young racehorses

The more types of gut microbes a foal has at just 4 weeks old is directly related to its future health and its success on the racecourse, according to a study from researchers in the United Kingdom.

“Early-life gut bacterial community structure predicts disease risk and athletic performance in horses bred for racing” was published August 7 in the online version of Scientific reports. Investigators analyzed early-life fecal bacterial community data from 52 Thoroughbred foals bred for racing along with comprehensive health and performance data from the first three years of life.

The findings showed that higher bacterial diversity at 28, 90, and 365 days old was significantly associated with a reduced risk of respiratory disease later in life. Plus, for soft-tissue and orthopedic health events, the incidence rate of disease is significantly higher with low gut bacterial diversity in early life.

The study results also demonstrated significant positive associations between fecal microbial diversity at 28 days and official rating, average prize money earnings, and average race placings, which were used as measures for athletic performance.

Researchers’ regression models controlled for sex, birth weight, mare age, and gestation days.

Finally, the study’s findings indicate that foals receiving antimicrobial treatment during the first month of life had significantly lower fecal bacterial diversity at 28 days old than those that hadn’t.

“Our study reveals associations between early-life bacterial community profiles and health events in later life and it provides evidence of the detrimental impact of antimicrobial treatment in the first month of life on health and performance outcomes in later life,” the study authors wrote. “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.”