The use of Probiotics in Horses with Gastrointestinal Disease

Probiotics are common adjunctive therapy used in human and veterinary medicine, mostly intended for gastrointestinal diseases treatment or prevention. Lactic acid bacteria: Lactobacilli, bifid bacteria and enterococci and Saccharomyces boulardii, a subtype of the nonpathogenic yeast have been most frequently used as probiotic active ingredients. To become a recognized effective probiotic, a certain microorganism must fulfill many expectations, primarily the ability to survive gastrointestinal tract passage, adhere to epithelial cells and colonize intestines to present antimicrobial effect and inhibition of enteric pathogens. Prior to evaluation of clinical efficiency, it is advised to perform in vitro studies in order to identify potentially beneficial properties of probiotic organisms. An effective probiotic product could be of a great value in equine medicine, since both, adult horses and foals, frequently exhibit gastrointestinal problems. However, very little objective research has been carried out on the topic. The effectiveness of probiotic products in horses has been proven in very few studies and some presented serious adverse effects. Therefore, the benefits of probiotics use in equine medicine still remain undetermined.