Effect of a Probiotic on Prevention of Diarrhea and Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens Shedding in Foals. (22nd April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schoster, A.; Staempfli, H.R.; Abrahams, M.; Jalali, M.; Weese, J.S.; Guardabassi, L.
• Is Part Of: Journal of veterinary internal medicine. Volume 29:Number 3(2015:May/Jun.)
• Page Start: 925
• Page End: 931
• Publication Date: 2015-04-22
• Subjects: Veterinary medicine -- Periodicals; 636.0896
• DOI: 10.1111/jvim.12584
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0891-6640

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jvim12584-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="jvim12584-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Up to 60% of foals develop diarrhea within 6 months after birth. Preventive measures are limited but potentially probiotics could be used.</p> </sec> <sec id="jvim12584-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>To evaluate the effect of a newly designed probiotic on the incidence of foal diarrhea in a randomized field trial.</p> </sec> <sec id="jvim12584-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Animals</title> <p>Seventy‐two healthy neonatal foals.</p> </sec> <sec id="jvim12584-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Randomized, placebo‐controlled field trial. Foals were administered a placebo or probiotic for 3 weeks and monitored for an additional week. A total of 3 fecal samples were taken from each foal at biweekly intervals. Statistical modeling was applied for comparison of incidence and duration of diarrhea and fecal shedding of <italic>Clostridium perfringens</italic> and <italic>Clostridium difficile</italic> between treatment and age groups.</p> </sec> <sec id="jvim12584-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The overall incidence of diarrhea was 41 of 72 (59%) and did not differ (<italic>P</italic> = 0.37) between treatment groups. Foals treated with probiotics were more likely to develop diarrhea requiring veterinary intervention (<italic>P</italic> = 0.007). Age had a significant effect on incidence of diarrhea (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001); foals 8–15 days old having the highest probability of developing diarrhea. Duration of diarrhea and soft feces were not significantly different between groups. The prevalence of <italic>C</italic>. <italic>perfringens</italic> shedding was 55% with no difference between treatment groups (<italic>P</italic> = 0.23). The prevalence of <italic>C</italic>. <italic>difficile</italic> shedding was 11%.</p> </sec> <sec id="jvim12584-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion and Clinical Importance</title> <p>There was no benefit of administering a 3‐week course of probiotics, but potential adverse effects were noted. Whether the probiotics lacked a clinical effect, or the choice of strains or dose was inadequate, is unknown. Clostridial shedding was not influenced by probiotics despite in vitro activity of probiotics.</p> </sec> </abstract>