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OPEN Development of the equine gut

microbiota
F. Lindenberg1,2, L. Krych3, W. Kot4, J. Fielden1, H. Frøkiær 2
, G. van Galen5, D. S. Nielsen3 &
A. K. Hansen 2
Received: 12 October 2018
Shortly after birth the mammalian gut is colonized, by a transient microbiota, highly susceptible to
Accepted: 9 September 2019 environment and diet, that eventually stabilizes and becomes the resident gut microbiota. In a window
Published: xx xx xxxx of opportunity during the colonization, oral tolerance is established towards resident bacteria. In this
study, the development of the equine gut microbiota was investigated in ten foals from parturition
until post weaning. We found great differences in the core species of the gut microbiota composition
between time-matched samples on Day 7 and 20 post-partum. Between day 20 and Day 50 post-
partum, we saw the gut microbiota became increasingly dominated by fiber fermenting species. After
Day 50, no significant changes in species abundance were observed. Gene expression analysis of pro-
and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the blood revealed no significant changes before and after weaning.
In summary, relative stability of the gut microbiota was reached within 50 days post-partum and,
weaning did not have a major impact on the microbial composition.

The mammalian gut is colonized by microorganisms immediately after birth, and the composition of the gut
microbiota influences the development of the immune system1,2. An immunological homeostasis is established
with oral tolerance toward food antigens and commensal bacteria3. Improper colonization and pathological
changes in the microbial composition, called dysbiosis, upsets the homeostasis and often result in inflammation
and have been shown to govern inflammatory and metabolic diseases in animal models4–8. Postnatal acquire-
ment of a health- promoting gut microbiota is, therefore, a key factor in ensuring the establishment of a healthy
immunological homeostasis. Dietary manipulation of the developing gut microbiota may promote the growth of
beneficial bacterial species and has been demonstrated to influence the immune system in humans and mice pos-
itively9,10. To secure that a dietary intervention has a beneficial and lasting impact on the microbiota and immune
system in foals, it is necessary to identify the time point at which the microbiota stabilizes.
Initial colonization, stabilization of the microbiota, weaning, and transfer to solid food are major events
responsible for shaping of the gut microbiota and immunological homeostasis in mammals11. Several studies have
pinpointed conversion to solid food and weaning as the time at which the mature gut microbiota is permanently
established, and there is substantial evidence that this period is also vital in shaping the immune system12,13. The
importance of the pre-weaning period is shown by studies observing significant differences in microbial compo-
sition, expression of immune receptors, cytokines and signaling pathways in germ-free mice colonized before and
after three weeks of age1,14. This indicates the existence of a window in which the immune system is susceptible to
gut microbiota modulations which alter the immunological phenotype permanently15.
Weaning of foals usually takes place between 4 to 6 months of age, but the change from milk to solid foods
is gradual, as most foals will have started ingesting solid food before weaning16. Culture techniques identify-
ing selected species reported high similarity between foal and mare microbiota four weeks after parturition17.
Denaturation Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) band patterns between mares and foals were similar 42
days after birth18. Automated Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis (ARISA) revealed no shifts in community
structure after 30 days of age19. 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) sequencing revealed relative stability after
60 days of life, with minor differences still evident between nine-month-old foals and their mares20. The effect of
weaning was investigated with both fingerprinting and sequencing, and both studies showed little or no effect on
the composition19,20, which is incongruent with findings in other species, in which considerable changes in the gut

1
Brogaarden Aps, Copenhagen, Denmark. 2Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Veterinary and
Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. 3Faculty of Sciences, Department of Food
Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. 4Department of Environmental Sciences, Aarhus
University, København, Denmark. 5Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Veterinary Clinical
Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Correspondence and requests for materials should be
addressed to F.L. (email: [email protected])

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microbiota have been attributed to weaning as described above. Based on the inter- study differences a conclusion
regarding the time point for microbiota stabilization and the effect of weaning cannot be reached. However, major
changes in microbial composition seem to occur within the first couple of months after birth, before weaning.
The aim of this study was to use next generations sequencing to determine the period of gut microbiota
stabilization in foals. Considering the importance of weaning in the development of the gut microbiota and the
immune system in other species, we also wished to assess the possible changes in the microbial composition and
inflammatory markers before and after weaning.

Method
Animals. All assays were carried out on samples collected as part of the stud farm’s routine health surveillance, by
an authorized veterinarian, which according to the Animal Experimentation Act (LBK No. 474 15/05/2014, should
not be regarded as animal experimentations. All procedures were carried out according to The Danish Veterinary
Act (Dyrlægeloven) no 48 of11/01/2017. Approval was obtained from the owners prior to the study start.
Ten mares with foals housed at a privately owned stud farm were included (York stud farm, Hørsholm,
Denmark). All mares were Thoroughbreds that were housed under high-level hygienic conditions and clinically
healthy based on history and clinical examination. The foals were born in the period from February to April
2015. Gestational lengths (334 to 356 days) and deliveries were normal. Only one mare needed veterinary assis-
tance during parturition, and this mare received post-partum antibiotics (penicillin/gentamycin (Genta-equine,
Dechra) one dose intra muscularly, prophylactically). All foals stood within 2 hours and nursed within 6 hours
and none of them developed signs of disease at any point. Serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) was systemically
measured 12 hours after birth in a semi-quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) quick-test
(KRUUSE IgG Foal Quick Test, KRUUSE, Langeskov, Denmark). Foals with IgG levels under 400 mg/dl received a
colostrum replacement pasta (FoalGard, Hunden och Herden, Sjöbo, Sweden) once within 24 hours post-partum.
All but two foals had IgG levels above 400 mg/dl. No other replacement, bottle- or tube feeding was given. Seven
of the foals developed mild, self-limiting “foal heat diarrhea” around the age of two weeks post-partum. No “foal
heat diarrhea” exceeded the time between aged 7–12 days. Mares were housed with their foals in individual boxes
(one box per mare/foal pair) and let out in a pen in foal/mare pairs but separately from other pairs for the first
month. New straw was added to the boxes daily, and boxes were mocked out once a week. Mares and foals were
turned out on pasture daily in small groups when the foals were approximately one month old. They remained full
time on pasture from June until weaning.
Foals were not fed separately but had access to the mares feed bucket throughout the study period. The mares
were fed a concentrate for mares and growing foals (Optimal no. 1 Suregrow, Brogaarden Diets Ltd. Lynge,
Denmark) (Supplemental Table 1). Pre partum and for the first two months post-partum mares received 1–1.5 kg/
day, from one month post-partum doses were gradually increased to 1.5–2.3 kg/day as foals started ingesting
more concentrate. Additionally, mares were fed lucerne (0.75–1 kg/day) and hay ad libitum. Free access to clean
water was available at all times for foals and mares.
All foals were weaned simultaneously regardless of age at the end of November. Weaning took place over a
week when foals were gradually weaned from the mare and introduced to co-housing in a barn.

Collection of samples. Parturition was considered as Day 0, and fecal samples were collected from foals
on Day 7, 20, 50, 80, 110, and 140 post-partum. Additionally, a jugular blood sample and a fecal sample was col-
lected immediately pre- (age 262+/−22 days) and approximately 14 days post weaning (age 280+/−18 days). A
fecal sample was taken from all mares immediately pre weaning to be compared to that of the foals. All samples
were collected as fecal grab samples immediately after leaving the rectum. When possible a subsample of about
100–200 grams was collected from the part of the feces that had not been into contact with the ground, when not
the entire defecations was collected. From June foals and mares were let out on permanent pasture, which made
sampling significantly more difficult, and samples collected between Day 80 and 110 were combined into one time
point, because successful sampling did not happen in all cases. No samples were taken from foals suffering from
the foal heat diarrhea (5 missing samples on day 7).
All fecal samples were collected on site into 50 mL Falcon Tubes (Thermo Fischer Scientific Denmark) and stored
on −20 °C in a mobile freezer (max 3 hours) until it could be stored in a permanent freezer facility at −80 °C.
For quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) gene expression analysis, blood was collected from the jug-
ular vein and processed as described by Mærkedal et al.21. Briefly, samples were collected from the jugular vein by
a VacutainerTM (Kruuse, Denmark) needle into 6 mL EDTA coated vacuum tubes (BD, Kruuse, Langeskov, DK)
from which 0.5 mL whole blood was transferred to Eppendorf tubes containing 1.3 mL MagMax Lysis/Binding
solution concentrate (Ambion, Thermo Fischer Scientific Denmark) and stored at −80 °C until processing.

Fecal samples analysis. Extraction of DNA. Bacterial DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) was extracted using
the MoBio Power Soil Kit (MoBio QIAGEN Nordic, Copenhagen East). A pre step was included were samples
were thawed, and 20 grams were suspended in 40 ml sterile milli-Q water in a stomacher bag with filter and
processed in a stomacher (Seward 80 BA 7020 Stomacher Lab Blender, Seward, West Sussex, United Kingdom)
in 2 min at maximum speed. A volume of 200 μl was then used for DNA-extraction. The DNA extraction was
performed according to the manual.

High throughput sequencing of the gut microbiota. Fecal microbiota composition was determined using
tag-encoded 16S rRNA gene (V3-V4-region) MiSeq-based (Illumina, San Diego, CA) high throughput sequenc-
ing. DNA extraction, storage conditions, and sequencing library preparation were conducted as previously
described22.

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Sequencing data analysis. The raw dataset containing pair-ended reads and quality scores were merged,
trimmed according to quality scores, clustered to operational taxonomic units (OTUs), and corrected for chi-
meras using UPARSE pipeline23 using setting as previously described22. The green genes (13.8) 16 S rRNA gene
collection was used as a reference database.
Not all foals were represented at all times points due to the difficulty of obtaining samples from young foals. To
achieve a higher group size and better statistical robustness in the analysis samples were grouped as follows: Day
7 and Day 20 (time 1), Day 50 and Day 80–110 (time 2), and Day 140 and pre-weaning (time 3). Samples taken
post weaning were not grouped with others in order to enable assessment of pre- and post-weaning effects on the
microbial composition.

Gene expression analysis. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) was extracted using the MagMAX-96 Blood RNA
Isolation kit (Ambion, Fischer Scientific, Denmark) and the MagMAX Express Magnetic Particle Processor
(Fischer Scientific Denmark). Procedures were carried out according to the manufacturers manual with slight
adjustments as described by Mærkedahl et al.21. RNA concentration and purity was measured on Nanodrop 2000
(Thermo Fischer). Samples (200 ng of each sample) were aliquoted in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) -plate
and the Applied Biosystem High-Capacity cDNA (Complimentary deoxyribonucleic acid) Reverse Transcriptase
Kit (Applied Biosystems, Fischer Scientific, Denmark) with random primers and a total volume of 10 μl was
used for cDNA synthesis. Procedures were carried out according to the manufacturer’s protocol. qPCR was per-
formed using the TaqMan Fast Universal PCR Master Mix (Applied Biosystems, Fischer Scientific Denmark) on
2 μl cDNA product and a total volume of 10 μl. Equine probes were obtained from Applied Biosystems, Thermo
Fischer Scientific and analyses were carried out in duplicates for each samples for interleukin 6 (il6) (probe
ID: Ec03468680_m1), interleukin 10 (il10) (probe ID: Ec03468647_m1), interleukin 1 beta (il1b) (probe ID:
Ec_04260289_s1), transforming growth factor beta (tgfb) (probe ID: Ec03468030_m1), and 18 s ribosomal ribo-
nucleic acid (18 s) (probe ID: 4333760 F) on the StepOnePlus instrument (Applied Biosystems, Fischer Scientific
Denmark). The amplification data was analyzed using the StepOne v 2.3 software (Applied Biosystems, Fischer
Scientific Denmark) to obtain threshold cycle (CT) values. Quality check of the amplification data was performed
and samples flagged NOSIGNAL (No detectable level of fluorescence), NOAMP (No amplification), NOISE (The
background fluorescence in the well exceeds the limit) were excluded from the analysis.

Statistical analysis. Quantitative Insight Into Microbial Ecology (QIIME) open source software pack-
ages (1.7.0, 1.8.0 and 1.9.1)24,25 were used for analysis of the sequencing data. Alpha diversity expressed with an
observed species (sequence similarity 97% OTUs), Chao1 and Shannon indices were computed based on rarefied
OTU tables (10,000 reads/sample) using the alpha rarefaction workflow (QIIME V1.9). Differences in alpha diver-
sity were determined using a t-test-based approach employing the non-parametric (Monte Carlo) method (999
permutations) implemented in the compare alpha diversity workflow. Unweighted and weighted UniFrac dis-
tance matrices were calculated from subsampled OTU tables (10.000 reads/sample) and visualized with Principal
Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) plots. The separation between the time groups was tested with Permutational
Multivariate Analysis of Variance (PERMANOVA). Comparison of UniFrac distances between given categories
was performed using “make_distance_poxplot” workflow (QIIME 1.8.0) performing two-sample t-tests between
time points. The differences in taxa abundance between categories were estimated with a statistic framework:
analysis of composition of microbes (ANCOM) based on raw OTU-table26. Graphpad Prism (GraphPad Software,
Inc. La Jolla, CA, USA) was used to generate the alpha-diversity plots and analyze qPCR data. CT values were
obtained from the qPCR and fold changes were calculated according to the delta-delta-Threshold-Cycle ddCt
(delta delta threshold cycle) method27. The average expression of the target genes as normalized to the reference
gene 18S [dCT(Delta threshold cycle)sample) = CT(target) − CT(reference)]. The average gene expression level measured
before weaning was used as calibrator and gene expression was calculated as CT(sample) − CT(calibrator). Normal dis-
tribution was assessed by a Shapiro-Wilk normality test and data that did not follow a normal distribution was
analyzed by a non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. P values below 0.05 were considered significant.

Results
PCoA plots based on unweighted and weighted UniFrac distances show significant differences between the sam-
ples collected at the different time points (Fig. 1). Samples collected at Day 7 and Day 20 clustered together
and presented more separation both unweighted (Fig. 1a) and weighted (Fig. 1b). Paired PERMANOVA results
showed a tendency towards less and less separation with increased age up until just before weaning, most nota-
bly in the analysis in unweighted UniFrac distances (Fig. 1c). UniFrac distances for samples taken pre- and post
weaning showed significant separation with all other times and between pre- and post weaning. No differences
were observed between pre-weaning samples collected from foals and mares, but between mares and samples
collected post weaning.
From parturition to post weaning there was a steady increase in alpha diversity determined as Chao1,
observed species and as the Shannon Index (Fig. 2a–c and Supplementary Table S2). There was a steady increase
in alpha diversity over time on all indices. Most notably between day 20 and 50. No significant differences were
observed between samples taken pre- and post-weaning.
ANCOM analysis revealed significant differences in composition between samples taken at Day 20 and sam-
ples taken at Day 50 and onwards (Day 80–110, Day 140, pre-weaning, post-weaning, mares) (Fig. 3). Before
Day 50, the abundances of BF311, CF231, YRC22, Rikenellaceae and RF16 (all Bacteroidetes) were significantly
(q < 0.05) lower (Fig. 4). After Day 50, significant (q < 0.05) increases were observed in abundances of Bacteroides
uniformis, Bacteroides fragilis, Parabacteroides, and Butyricimonas (all Bacteroidetes), Enterobacteriaceae
(Proteobacteria) and, Lactobacillus mucosae, Blautia producta, and Streptococcus (all Firmicutes) (Fig. 3). Samples

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Figure 1. PCoA plots based on unweighted (a), and weighted (b) UniFrac distance matrices reflecting
similarities in microbial communities between fecal samples of foals collected from birth until after weaning
and one time matched samples from mares taken together with the “before weaning” samples. Analysis shows
clear qualitative (a), and quantitative (b) differences in microbial communities according to time. Paired
PERMANOVA results for weighted (grey area) and unweighted (white area) UniFrac distance matrices are
given in table (c).

taken from the foal of the mare who received post-partum antibiotics followed the clustering patterns of the other
samples in the respective time group (the samples have been marked in Fig. 3)
Analysis of gene expression showed no differences in any of the immune parameters measured pre and post
weaning (Fig. 4).

Discussion
This study demonstrated a significantly higher diversity in gut microbiota between time-matched samples taken
on Day 7 and Day 20 compared to samples taken at day 50 and until after weaning, which indicates instabilities
in the gut microbiota composition in the early period. This is very similar to the colonization patterns observed
in other species in which the initial microbiota is very dynamic and characterized by transient colonization
of bacteria that disappear after a short while11. In humans, the initial microbiota is acquired largely from the
mother during birth, from suckling, and from the milk28. The results show a large inter -individual gut microbi-
ota composition of foals at 7 days of age, indicating that at this early stage, the gut microbiota is very transient.
At day 20 we see a more uniform microbiota composition between the foals, but a microbiota composition, that
significantly differs from that of foals aged 50 days and older. Of the microbiota found in foals aged 20 days,
Lactobacillus mucosae have been found in the vagina of mares29 and Streptococcus in the amniotic fluid30 suggest-
ing that the foals might have gained part of their microbiota from the birth canal. However, both Lactobacillus and
Streptococci have also previously been found in high numbers in mare’s milk30,31 and in human milk along with
Bacteroides, and Blautia32. This could suggest that milk has a strong impact on the microbial composition in this
period. Qercia et al.30 investigated the vertical transfer of microbiota from mares to foals, and found that the milk
and foal gut microbiota shares similarities early on, but also that coprophagia played a large part in shaping the
early gut microbiota. The coprophagic behavior shown in foals almost immediately after birth may contribute to
stabilization by providing a steady source of microbiota early on. Coprophagic behavior has been observed to be
most pronounced during the first two months of life33. This approximately coincides with the time in which we
observe the majority of the microbial establishment, suggesting the vertical transfer of microbiota plays a role in
microbial stabilization.
In addition to directly serving as a source of microorganisms via the glands, the mare’s milk is also rich in
oligosaccharides, which play a major role in shaping the microbiota34. Changes in both quality and quantity of
milk oligosaccharides have been shown to affect the microbial composition in pigs35, and oligosaccharides from
the milk may act as a stabilizing agent on the microbiota early in life.

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Figure 2. Alpha diversity shown as Chao1 (a), Observed species (b) and on the Shannon index (c) (mean, SD)
calculated based on rarefied (10.000 reads/sample) OTU-table for foals on Day 7, 20, 50, 80–110, 140 post-
partum, pre- and 14 days post weaning. Significant differences (p < 0.05) are indicated wit a*.

Figure 3. Heatmap illustrating taxa characterized with amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA gene (v3-v4 region),
which differed significantly in abundances (ANCOM, p < 0.05) from fecal samples taken from foals at different
times. Only major differences in taxa abundance were between 20 weeks and the rest. Scale on the right
indicates log abundance. Arrow indicate foal from mare who received post-partum antibiotics.

Like Bordin et al.36 who observed a higher abundance of Bacteroides in 30- day old foals, we found a signifi-
cant increase of Bacteroides after day 50. Bordin et al. speculated that, as in humans, the gut microbiota gradually
develops to consist of more and more anaerobic bacteria, which reflects the conditions of the adult GI tract. We
have previously identified both CF231, BF311, and RF16 (all Bacteroidetes) as well as Fibrobacteres succinogenes

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Figure 4. Plot showing gene expression of immunological parameters before and after weaning measured
by qPCR on blood RNA levels and calibrated to the average gene expression before weaning. No significant
differences were found in gene expression before and after weaning.

(Fibrobacter) as belonging to the core microbiome of adult horses37 and the significant increase in these species
observed after Day 50 suggests that the adult microbiota is partly present already at this time. Additionally, foals
start eating the mares’ food, hay and grass already when they are a couple of weeks old. A fiber-rich diet has been
shown to promote the growth of fiber-fermenting bacteria such as CF231 and BF31138. De La Torre et al.39 found
an increase in fiber fermenting bacteria from age 7 days supporting the assumptions that both coprophagia and
the diet influence the gut microbial composition, even though the foals are still suckling.
A general increase in species richness (alpha-diversity) was observed until post- weaning, with a large increase
in samples taken at Day 50 compared to samples taken at Day 7 and 20. This has been reported by other studies
as well, who also found significant increases earlier than 50 days40. An increase in alpha-diversity and approxima-
tion to the mother’s composition has been associated with maturation of the gut microbiota in both humans and
mice41,42. This further supports our assumption of stabilization occurring around Day 50.
As foals at weaning have had a subtle intake of hay, grass and mares food for at least several months, a micro-
bial composition associated with this diet is to be expected. On the other hand, the cease in intake of mother’s
milk could give rise to further changes due to the decreasing effects of specific milk components on the microbi-
ota. The changes in microbial composition and immune response associated with weaning in both humans and
mice1,43 prompted us to look into the possible compositional and immunological changes around weaning in
horses. The beta-diversity showed significantly less separation in foals post- weaning compared to pre- weaning,
indicating gut microbial changes. No taxa were found to be significantly different between pre- and post- wean-
ing. Studies investigating the foal gut microbiota at weaning are still few, and results are not completely congru-
ous. Costa et al.20, and De La Torre et al.39. Mach et al.44 observed changes in several more species than in the
present study, when investigating two different types of weaning45. The studies differ in sampling times, feeding
regiments and time and method of separation from the mare, making direct comparisons challenging. In the
study by Mach44 the cereal diet was not introduced until one month before weaning, whereas foals in this study
had access to cereal from birth, which may have promoted the maturation of the gut microbiota. Even though
other studies have shown very little or none effect at all19, we hypothesize that milk may still have a minor effect
on the gut microbiota composition. We reach this hypothesis as no other factors were changed at weaning. The
diet remained the same and the foals continued being in the same fields as before weaning.
In mice changes in gut microbiota around the time of weaning affect the immune system and inflamma-
tory level and result in differences in lymphocyte distribution and types1,46. Therefore, we wished to assess the
immunological effects of weaning and especially the inflammatory responses to the suspected microbial changes
pre- and post-weaning. Ideally, such changes should be assessed locally in the intestinal mucosa; however, it was
considered too invasive to obtain biopsies of the mucosa. Hence, a panel of genes to analyze in blood extracted
pre- and post-weaning was chosen to reflect the systemic status of the adaptive immune system. Several studies
have shown that cytokines and chemokines are very unstable in unprocessed blood when stored in varying tem-
peratures for longer times47. As the blood samples were collected in the stable and stored for up to a couple of
hour before transport to the lab, gene expression analysis was chosen rather than protein measurement, as this
was considered a more stable parameter. il6 and il1b were chosen as markers of pro-inflammatory response and
il10, and tgfb as markers of regulatory immunity. No differences in gene expression were detected between sam-
ples taken pre- and post-weaning, suggesting that no major immunological reactions or adaptations took place.
This may indicate that milk consumption at the time of weaning does not have a major influence on the immune
system. Other studies have found increased levels, and increased regulatory potential of forkhead box P3 (Foxp3)
positive T-cells in foals during the first 3 months compared to older foals48,49, indicating that the immune system
is better suited at establishing oral tolerance at this time. This corresponds with the period in which we observed
the most prominent microbial stabilization and supports our hypothesis that this may be the most optimal time
to influence the immune system through microbiota manipulation via dietary interventions.

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The time of stabilization of the gut microbiota is not just interesting in relation to potential dietary interven-
tions. Foal heat diarrhea has been associated with changes in gut microbiota50 suggesting that foal diarrhea may
be susceptible to dietary interventions impacting the gut microbiota and be linked to the period before stabiliza-
tion. In addition, foals are routinely treated with antibiotics. An antimicrobial treatment that removes or changes
the abundance of certain species during the establishment of the immune-microbial homeostasis may have impli-
cations later in life as observed in mice and humans51.
The fact that all horses were housed at the same farm and thus have been exposed to many of the same envi-
ronmental stimuli may have contributed to a more uniform microbial composition. Moving forward, multi-site
studies should be conducted with enough animals to allow housing to be taken into account in the analysis. A
limitation to the study is the relatively few samples in the Day 7 group and the only partial clustering with the
Day 20 group. Bigger studies should be conducted with more foals in each group to gain a more robust statistical
analysis.

Conclusion
In conclusion, we observed marked stabilization of gut microbiota already around Day 50 post-partum. Weaning
had some effects on the microbial stability but did not seem to be the cause of major immunological adaptations.
This is probably due to the gradual introduction of adult diet long before weaning. The early microbiota was
characterized by bacteria previously identified in milk and from the birth canal, while a significant increase in
certain fiber fermenting species emerged from Day 50. The time window in which we observed the microbiota to
stabilize corresponded with the time in which other studies have found high levels of reactive regulatory T-cells
and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the blood. We, therefore, point at the period between birth and 50 days of age
as the most likely window of opportunity for permanently influencing the immune system via the gut microbiota
in horses.

Data Availability
Data and associated protocols are stored on the University of Copenhagen’s backup servers, and can be made
available for other non-commercial research groups along with any remaining study materials, as far as still in
stock, by communication with the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements
The study was carried out under the industrial PhD program supported by the Innovation Fund Denmark (Grant
No 4019-00032B). The authors wish to thank the Elsass Family for allowing us to carry out the study on their
farm and all the staff at York stud farm for their help handling the horses. Line Zachariasen is kindly thanked for
additional help with collecting samples and Anni Mehlsen for assistance during qPCR procedures.

Author Contributions
F.L., J.F., H.F., G.vG., D.S.N. and A.K.H. planned the experiment, F.L. collected the samples, F.L. performed the
DNA extraction, F.L., L.K. and W.K. performed the sequencing. F.L., L.K. and D.S.N. performed the data analysis
of the sequencing data. F.L. performed the RNA extraction and qPCR and F.L. and H.F. performed the data
analysis. F.L., L.K. and A.K.H. performed the statistics. F.L. and A.K.H. drafted the manuscript, and F.L., J.F., H.F.,
G.vG., D.S.N. and A.K.H. read and approved the manuscript

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Additional Information
Supplementary information accompanies this paper at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-50563-9.
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