Pre- and probiotics and transfaunation – what is the evidence?

The microbiota has been defined as the ecological community of commensal, symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms that share a person’s or animal’s body space [1]. The horse’s intestine is inhabited by a variety of bacteria, protozoa and fungi that together form the microbiota. There is increasing evidence that not only single pathogens are responsible for disease, but that a shift in the microbiota as a whole can be associated with a wide range of diseases. Alterations in the equine intestinal microbiota have been associated with acute colitis, equine grass sickness, post partum colic and laminitis [2–5]. Probiotics have been defined by the WHO as ‘live microorganisms that, when administered orally at adequate concentrations, provide a beneficial effect beyond that of their nutritional value’ ...