Microbiome and Dental Changes in Horses Fed a High Soluble Carbohydrate Diet

Abstract

This study investigated the oral microbiome of horses maintained on a high soluble carbohydrate diet based on sugarcane, in comparison to those fed a pasture-based diet composed of <i>Cynodon</i> spp., aiming to identify associations between dietary intake, the composition of oral microbial communities, and the occurrence of dental caries and diastemata. A total of 20 healthy horses, both male and female, with an average age of 9 ± 3 years and weight of 400 ± 100 kg, without a defined breed, were selected. They were divided into two groups: the High Soluble Carbohydrate Group (HSCCG), consisting of 10 horses fed sugarcane for at least 3 years, and the Low Soluble Carbohydrate Group (LSCCG), consisting of 10 horses fed pasture with <i>Cynodon</i> spp. Dental examinations were performed using an adapted oral endoscope to assess caries and diastemata, and saliva samples were collected for microbiota analysis. Statistical analyses included a Student's <i>t</i>-test and Mann-Whitney test, with significance set at <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05. Horses in the HSCCG had a higher presence of peripheral caries (<i>p</i> = 0.001), as well as differences in the degree (<i>p</i> = 0.010), class (<i>p</i> = 0.05), and presence of diastemata. Microbial diversity indices (Chao, inverse Simpson, and Shannon) showed no significant differences, but the relative abundance differed (<i>p</i> = 0.003). Linear Discriminant Analysis revealed distinct microbial profiles: Candidatus Saccharibacteria and Bacteroidetes were more abundant in the HSCCG, while Cyanobacteria_Chloroplast and Proteobacteria dominated in the LSCCG. Over 35 genera differed significantly between groups. The study concludes that diet plays a significant role in shaping oral microbiota and influencing the development of dental caries in horses.