Researchers are working on an innovative approach to help diagnose inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in horses. Over the past few decades, there has been a growing recognition of IBD’s prevalence in both humans and animals, highlighting the urgent requirement for effective and budget-friendly diagnostic techniques.
Researchers from the University of Jyväskylä in Finland are pioneering a valuable technique to assist in diagnosing inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in equines. As awareness of IBD’s prevalence in humans and animals has risen in recent years, the demand for accessible and reliable diagnostic methods has become more pressing. This research marks the first instance of linking gut microbiota composition with chronic forms of IBD in horses.
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) have gained prominence in both humans and animals. In horses, IBD has become relatively common, leading to significant welfare issues such as weight loss, reduced performance, and signs of pain. These symptoms can result in the horse’s premature retirement or even euthanasia. Traditionally, IBD is diagnosed by assessing general symptoms, with the final confirmation through endoscopy and biopsy analysis of the intestinal wall.
“Diagnosing IBD can be financially burdensome for horse owners and stressful for the horses themselves since it involves fasting, endoscopy, and often travel to a specialized vet clinic,” says Academy Research Fellow Silva Uusi-Heikkilä from the University of Jyväskylä. Additionally, the procedure is complicated due to the horse’s lengthy gastrointestinal tract, which limits the exploration that can realistically be done during endoscopy.
Study of Microbiota Composition from Horse Fecal Samples
The team at the University of Jyväskylä looked into the possibility of using the bacterial community makeup, or microbiota, in horse fecal samples as a non-invasive diagnostic resource for IBD. Previous research in other species, including humans, indicates that microbiota composition can assist in identifying IBD and tracking its progression. Leveraging this knowledge, the researchers evaluated the microbiota composition from horse fecal samples to see if it could signal IBD’s presence.
“We found that there were notable differences in the gut microbiota between horses diagnosed with IBD and healthy ones,” Uusi-Heikkilä explains. Certain groups of bacteria showed increased or decreased levels in horses affected by IBD,” she adds.
Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Research
Through analyzing microbiota composition, the researchers created a machine learning model aimed at predicting IBD based on the bacterial species present in fecal samples.
“This AI-driven neural network model achieved a 100% accuracy rate in predicting IBD from test samples,” says Postdoctoral Researcher Tiina Sävilammi from the University of Jyväskylä. The next steps involve testing the model further and refining its effectiveness using additional samples, she notes.
Advantages of the New Diagnostic Method for Humans and Animals
The encouraging findings from the researchers indicate that, in the future, examining the microbiota composition in fecal samples could evolve into a precise, cost-efficient, and non-invasive method for screening IBD in horses. This advancement could alleviate both the stress and financial strain related to current diagnostic practices, thereby benefiting horses and their owners alike.
