Correlation of the uterine microbiome of mares with the acquisition of sepsis in their foals

Sepsis is one of the leading causes of death in foals. With a survival rate of approximately 50 %, many studies have concluded the need for a better prediction tool for sepsis. Early recognition and intervention are positively correlated with lower sepsis mortality rate. Studies have linked other foal diseases with the composition of the microbiome at various body sites. The objective of this study is to identify a correlation between the microbiome of the uterine fluid in mares and the acquisition of sepsis in their foals. 58 mares and their foals were surveyed, and microbiome samples were taken from the mares. The DNA from the samples were as isolated and sequenced using 16S rRNA specific primers to identify bacterial components. QIIME 2.0 on virtual box was used to analyze the data. The phylum Fusobacteria was 16.67 times more abundant in the non-septic foals than the septic foals. The phylum Proteobacteria was found in higher abundance in the septic foals