Methods for predicting equine weight loss propensity
The invention provides methods of predicting the weight loss propensity of an animal of the genus Equus , through the assessment of various markers in a sample obtained from the animal. Such markers include fermentation products and/or metabolites thereof such as volatile fatty acids, indicators of bacterial population diversity, and the abundance/relative abundance of specific bacterial taxa.
1 . A method of reducing body mass in an animal of the genus Equus in need thereof, the method comprising:
a) quantifying a plurality of bacterial taxa in a fecal sample obtained from the animal and calculating a diversity measure of the bacterial taxa present in the fecal sample, wherein the step of calculating the diversity measure comprises calculating an Inverse Simpson diversity value according to formula (I):
(I) 1 /ΣPi2, wherein Pi is the proportion of individuals belonging to species i;
b) identifying the animal as having a Body Condition Scoring (BCS) value of at least 6, wherein the fecal sample obtained from the animal comprises a calculated Inverse Simpson diversity value from about 10 to about 70; and
c) restricting caloric intake through a calorie-restricted diet plan, wherein the calorie-restricted diet plan has a duration of from about 7 weeks to about 16 weeks, and wherein the calorie-restricted diet plan comprises dry matter in an amount from about 1% to about 1.50% relative to the animal's body mass per day during the period of caloric restriction, and wherein the calorie-restricted diet plan reduces body mass ranging from about 1.14% to about 1.25% per week.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a calculated Inverse Simpson diversity of less than 75, 70, 65, 60, 55, 50, 45, 40, 35 or 30 is predictive of loss of at least 8% outset body mass after the period of caloric restriction.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of calculating the diversity measure comprises calculating a Shannon-Weiner diversity value according to formula (II):
(II) −Σ 22 Pi ln (Pi), wherein Pi is the proportion of individuals belonging to species i, wherein a fecal sample comprising a calculated Shannon-Weiner diversity value from about 4 to about 6 indicates the diversity measure is predictive of loss of at least 8% outset body mass after the period of caloric restriction.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of calculating the diversity measure comprises calculating the number of different bacterial species present in the sample.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein a fecal sample comprising between about 1000and about 1900 different bacterial species is predictive of loss of at least 8% outset body mass after the period of caloric restriction.
6 . A method of reducing body mass in an animal of the genus Equus in need thereof, the method comprising:
a) quantifying an abundance and/or a relative abundance of bacteria in a sample obtained from the animal, wherein the bacteria are selected from the list comprising (i) bacteria of the genus Sphaerochaeta , and/or (ii) bacteria of the genus Treponema , and/or (iii) bacteria of the genus Anaerovorax and/or (iv) bacteria of the genus Mobilitalea , and/or (v) bacteria of the phylum Actinobacteria , and/or (vi) bacteria of the phylum Spirochaetes , and/or (vii) fibre-fermenting bacteria;
b) identifying the animal as having a Body Condition Scoring (BCS) value of at least 6, wherein the fecal sample obtained from the animal comprises the abundance and/or relative abundance of bacteria that is indicative of a weight loss propensity; and
c) restricting caloric intake through a calorie-restricted diet plan, wherein the calorie-restricted diet plan has a duration of from about 7 weeks to about 16 weeks, and wherein the calorie-restricted diet plan comprises dry matter in an amount from about 1% to about 1.50% relative to the animal's body mass per day during the period of caloric restriction, and wherein the calorie-restricted diet plan reduces body mass ranging from about 1.14% to about 1.25% per week.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein an abundance of bacteria of the genus Sphaerochaeta in the sample of less than logio 2.5 counts, and/or a relative abundance of less than 0.05%, is predictive of loss of at least 8% outset body mass after the period of caloric restriction.
8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein an abundance of bacteria of the genus Mobilitalea in the sample of less than logio 2.5 counts, and/or a relative abundance of less than 0.03%, is predictive of loss of at least 8% outset body mass after the period of caloric restriction.
9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein a relative abundance of bacteria of the genus Treponema in the sample of less than 1.7% is predictive of loss of at least 8% outset body mass after the period of caloric restriction.
10 . The method of claim 6 , wherein a relative abundance of bacteria of the genus Anaerovorax in the sample of less than 0.11% is predictive of loss of at least 8% outset body mass after the period of caloric restriction.
11 . The method of claim 6 , wherein an abundance of bacteria of the phylum Actinobacteria in the sample of less than logio 3.7 counts is predictive of loss of at least 8% outset body mass after the period of caloric restriction.
12 . The method of claim 6 , wherein a relative abundance of bacteria of the phylum Spirochaetes in the sample less than 2.3% is predictive of loss of at least 8% outset body mass after the period of caloric restriction.
13 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the sample is a fecal sample, blood sample or urine sample, or a sample from the gastrointestinal lumen.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the sample from the gastrointestinal lumen is an ileal, jejunal, duodenal or colonic sample.