Saccharomyces boulardii viability and efficacy in horses with antimicrobial‐induced diarrhoea

Abstract

Saccharomyces boulardii has been successfully used in the prevention and treatment of antimicrobial-associated diarrhoea in humans. We hypothesised that a viable, dried lyophilised preparation of S boulardii would survive in the gastrointestinal tract of horses with antimicrobial-associated enterocolitis, and significantly decrease the duration of diarrhoea. Twenty-one horses, over one year of age, with antimicrobial-associated diarrhoea of up to 72 hours duration, were consecutively randomised in a controlled prospective study. The treatment group received S boulardii (25 g, orally, every 12 hours) until the cessation of clinical signs. S boulardii was successfully cultured in 58.3 per cent of treatment horses on day 3. No statistically significant differences were found in days to return to normal faecal consistency; resolution of watery diarrhoea; return to normal heart rate, respiratory rate and temperature; resolution of leucopaenia; attitude improvement; appetite improvement; and survival at discharge. This is the first study to demonstrate survival of S boulardii in horses with gastrointestinal illness. Further study of the efficacy and safety of S boulardii in horses with antimicrobial-associated diarrhoea in a larger group is warranted.

Probiotic Use in Horses – What is the Evidence for Their Clinical Efficacy?

“…The effect of probiotics in horses with enteric disease might differ from the effect in healthy horses, but no adverse clinical effects were reported in horses with gastrointestinal disease . Based on the above data, most authors consider probiotics, particularly S. boulardii, safe for use in healthy and diseased adult horses …”

The longitudinal effect of a multi‐strain probiotic on the intestinal bacterial microbiota of neonatal foals

“…Probiotics have been shown to reduce the incidence of diarrhoea in foals [11,12], but other studies have found a higher incidence of diarrhoea requiring veterinary attention in neonatal foals [13,14]. Several studies were unable to show beneficial effects of probiotic administration in prevention or treatment of diarrhoea in adult horses [15][16][17].…”

Effect of a Probiotic on Prevention of Diarrhea and Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens Shedding in Foals

“…Probiotics exert their beneficial effect through several pathways, including production of antimicrobial compounds targeting intestinal pathogens and their toxins, as well as general immune stimulation and colonization resistance 6. Few studies in horses have been performed to date to evaluate the efficacy of probiotics in prevention or treatment of enteric disease 4, 7, 8. The 2 studies on probiotic use to prevent neonatal foal diarrhea failed to show a lack of significant effect of probiotic treatment 3, 9.…”