title: Development of intestinal microflora and occurrence of diarrhoea in sucking foals: effects of Bacillus cereus var. toyoi supplementation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Almost all foals develop transient diarrhoea within the first weeks of life. Studies indicated different viral, bacterial, and parasitic causes, such as rotavirus, Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli, and Cryptosporidium are discussed. But little is known about the development of intestinal microflora in foals. The present study investigated whether the supplementation with Bacillus cereus var. toyoi would modify the developing intestinal microflora and consequently reduce diarrhoea in foals. From birth, the foals were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: placebo (10 mL isotonic NaCl, n = 8), low dosage (LD; 5 × 10(8) cfu B. cereus var. toyoi, n = 7) and high dosage (HD; 2 × 10(9) cfu B. cereus var. toyoi, n = 10). Treatment groups were supplemented orally once a day for 58 days. Faeces scoring and sampling were performed within the first 24 h after birth and on day 9, 16, 23, 30, 44, 58 of the foal's life and also on the first day of diarrhoea. Culture-plate methods were used to analyse the bacterial microflora.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-eight per cent of the foals developed diarrhoea (placebo 7/8, LD 5/7, HD 10/10) during the first 58 days of life. Bacillus cereus var. toyoi supplementation had no effect on bacterial microflora. Clostridium perfringens and enterobacteria were equally prevalent in foals with diarrhoea and those who were not afflicted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that the supplementation of B. cereus var. toyoi had no effect on the occurrence of diarrhoea and health status in the foals.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Nutrition Diseases and Dietetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. jenny-john@gmx.de.|Present address: Tierklinik Teisendorf, Teisendorf, Germany. jenny-john@gmx.de.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: John
authors.affiliation: Pferdeklinik Großostheim, Großostheim, Germany. roediger@pferdeklinik-grossostheim.de.
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Roediger
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bacteriology and Mycology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. schroedl@vetmed.uni-leipzig.de.
authors.forename: Wieland
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schroedl
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bacteriology and Mycology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. nada-mibi@hotmail.de.
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aldaher
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Nutrition Diseases and Dietetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. ingrid.vervuert@vetmed.uni-leipzig.de.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vervuert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling / Q000382:microbiology; D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000378:metabolism*; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000378:metabolism; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000378:metabolism; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000502:physiology; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D006736:Horses / Q000382:microbiology; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000378:metabolism; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*