ASPECTOS METABÓLICOS E MICROBIANOS DO TRATO DIGESTÓRIO VINCULADOS À ALIMENTAÇÃO DE EQUINOS

Abstract

Equines have a nutritional requirement influenced by several factors, such as: development phase, physical activity, live weight, the individual efficiency of metabolic processes may be related to the different races. In production animals, lack of nutrient balance can lead to poor performance, and microbial fluctuations of the gut reflect the change in nutrient availability and consequently changes in pH. These results indicate that the glandular portion of the stomach of the equine is colonized by gram positive bacteria, the main ones being Lactobacillus salivarius, L. crispatus, L. reuteri and L. agilis and that 72 distinct protozoan species colonize the large intestine of the horses. The prominent genres are: Buetschilia, Cycloposthum, Blepharocorys and Paraisotricha. Researches that highlight the effect of diets and the decrease in digestibility and microbial concentration of cecum and equine colon have demonstrated that the defaunation has no effect on the total bacterial concentration and concentration of cellulolytic bacteria in the cecum and colon. The decrease does not affect fungal concentration in the cecum, but it is known that there is a slight increase in the concentration of fiber digestion in the colon. Therefore, animals with microbial fermentation in the large intestine like the equines need a diet based on good quality bulks and the inclusion of fiber sources with high energy availability. Diets with inadequate fiber and high levels of starch depress fermentation, and digestive and metabolic disorders may occur. The objective of this review was to strengthen the knowledge base on the digestive system, to collaborate with a scientific approach on the main microbial aspects that correlate metabolism and functioning of the digestive tract of horses.