Faecal microbiota and antimicrobial resistance gene profiles of healthy foals

Abstract

Background The human and domestic animal faecal microbiota can carry various antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), especially if they have been exposed to antimicrobials. However, little is known about the ARG profile of the faecal microbiota of healthy foals. A high-throughput qPCR array was used to detect ARGs in the faecal microbiota of healthy foals. Objectives To characterise the faecal microbiota and ARG profiles in healthy Australian foals aged less than 1 month. Study design Observational study. Methods The faecal microbiota and ARG profiles of 37 Thoroughbred foals with no known gastrointestinal disease or antimicrobial treatment were determined using 16S rRNA gene sequencing an..