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Abstract

Simple Summary Although previously the placenta was assumed to be sterile, with microbes only being present in association with pathology, recent studies have suggested that this assumption may not be correct. Some researchers argue for the presence of a microbial community in the placenta, which is important to help the foal to adapt to life outside the uterus. Therefore, we examined the placenta, amniotic fluid and umbilical blood of 24 foaling mares, as well as jugular blood from the foals. All of the mares and foals were healthy, and foaling was normal. Some bacterial growth was isolated in most of the umbilical blood samples. Bacterial DNA was extracted and sequenced from placental samples. The most abundant phyla were Proteobacteria (approximately 44%) and Actinobacteria (approximately 28%). In conclusion, bacteria were found in the fetal compartments and placenta of healthy equine pregnancies, perhaps lending support to the theory that the placenta has its own bacterial community. The presence of a microbiome/microbiota in the placenta is hotly debated. In previous studies, the presence of bacteria in equine amniotic fluid and umbilical blood was independent of foal health. The objective of the present study was to determine if the same bacteria are present in the equine placenta as in amniotic fluid and umbilical blood. Samples were obtained from 24 parturient mares and foals. Placental bacterial DNA was extracted, and the microbiome was identified using 16S rRNA sequencing. All amniotic fluid samples contained some polymorphonucleocytes; bacteria were isolated from four samples. Aerobic or anaerobic growth was found in 18 and 3 umbilical blood samples, respectively. Serum amyloid A was

Keywords

placental microbiome; equine pregnancy; foal health; 16S rRNA sequencing; bacterial isolation; polymorphonucleocytes

Published in

Animals
2023, volume: 13, number: 12, article number: 2029

SLU Authors

UKÄ Subject classification

Animal and Dairy Science
Clinical Science

Publication identifier

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13122029

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/122501