The Microbiota and Equine Asthma: An Integrative View of the Gut–Lung Axis

Abstract

Both microbe–microbe and host–microbe interactions can have effects beyond the local environment and influence immunological responses in remote organs such as the lungs. The crosstalk between the gut and the lungs, which is supported by complex connections and intricate pathways, is defined as the gut–lung axis. This review aimed to report on the potential role of the gut–lung gut–lung axis in the development and persistence of equine asthma. We summarized significant determinants in the development of asthma in horses and humans. The article discusses the gut–lung axis and proposes an integrative view of the relationship between gut microbiota and asthma. It also explores therapies for modulating the gut microbiota in horses with asthma. Improving our understanding of the horse gut–lung axis could lead to the development of techniques such as fecal microbiota transplants, probiotics, or prebiotics to manipulate the gut microbiota specifically for improving the management of asthma in horses.

Keywords

• heaves
• horse
• inflammatory airway disease
• microbiome
• recurrent airway obstruction