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PloS one2019; 14(12); e0226186; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226186

Microbial diversity within the digestive tract contents of Dezhou donkeys.

Abstract: Gastrointestinal microbiota has significant impact on the nutrition and health of monogastric herbivores animals including donkey. However, so far the microbiota in different gastrointestinal compartments of healthy donkey has not been described. Therefore, we investigated the abundance and function of microbiota at different sites of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) (foregut: stomach, duodenum, jejunum and ileum; hindgut: cecum, ventral colon, dorsal colon, and rectum) of healthy adult donkeys mainly based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt) analysis. Collectively, our results showed that donkey has a rich, diverse and multi-functional microbiota along the GIT. In general, the richness and diversity of the microbiota are much higher in the hindgut relative to that in the foregut; at phylum level, the Firmicutes is dominant in the foregut while both Firmicutes and Bacteroides are abundant in the hindgut; at the genus level, Lactobacillus was dominant in the foregut while Streptococcus was more dominant in the hindgut. Our further PICRUSt analysis showed that varying microbiota along the GIT is functionally compatible with the corresponding physiological function of different GIT sites. For example, the microbes in the foregut are more active at carbohydrate metabolism, and in the hindgut are more active at amino acid metabolism. This work at the first time characterized the donkey digestive system from the aspects of microbial composition and function, provided an important basic data about donkey healthy gastrointestinal microbiota, which may be utilized to evaluate donkey health and also offer clues to further investigate donkey digestive system, nutrition, even to develop the microbial supplements.
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Publication Date: 2019-12-13 PubMed ID: 31834903PubMed Central: PMC6910686DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226186Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research explores the diversity and functionality of the gastrointestinal microbiota in healthy Dezhou donkeys, revealing that this species has a rich and diverse microbiota with different physiological functions at various sites along the gastrointestinal tract.

Overview of the Research and Its Motivation

  • The study begins by highlighting the crucial role of gastrointestinal (GIT) microbiota in monogastric herbivore animals, among them being the donkey.
  • However, it notes a gap in comprehensive understanding of the microbiota across different GIT compartments in a healthy donkey.
  • Given this backdrop, the research seeks to examine the abundance, diversity, and functionality of donkey microbiota across different sections of the GIT. The ultimate aim is to provide vital data about the donkey’s healthy GIT microbiota, useful for evaluating their health and offering clues for future investigations on their nutrition and the digestive system in general.

Methodology

  • The study relied on 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt) analysis to explore the microbial diversity in different GIT sites— the foregut (stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum) and hindgut (cecum, ventral colon, dorsal colon, and rectum).

Findings on Microbiota Diversity and Abundance

  • The researchers found that the Dezhou donkeys harbor a rich and multi-functional microbiota along their GIT.
  • The overall richness and diversity of the GIT microbiota were higher in the hindgut than in the foregut.
  • At the phylum level, the foregut was largely dominated by Firmicutes, while in the hindgut, both Firmicutes and Bacteroides were abundantly present.
  • At the genus level, Lactobacillus was the most dominant in the foregut, whereas Streptococcus was more prevalent in the hindgut.

Functional Analysis of the GIT Microbiota

  • The PICRUSt analysis carried out to investigate the functionality of different microbiota showed a distribution along the GIT compatible with different GIT sites’ physiological functions.
  • The foregut microbiota were found to be more active in carbohydrate metabolism, while the hindgut microbiota were more engaged in amino acid metabolism.
  • This study is the first of its kind that characterizes the donkey digestive system from both microbial composition and functionality aspects.

Implication and the Possible Future Applications

  • The results provide a crucial foundation for understanding the normal, healthy GIT microbiota in donkeys, laying a path for health evaluations and further research on their nutrition and digestive system.
  • Moreover, it opens up possibilities for the development of microbial supplements specific to the donkey’s GIT needs.

Cite This Article

APA
Liu G, Bou G, Su S, Xing J, Qu H, Zhang X, Wang X, Zhao Y, Dugarjaviin M. (2019). Microbial diversity within the digestive tract contents of Dezhou donkeys. PLoS One, 14(12), e0226186. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0226186

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 12
Pages: e0226186
PII: e0226186

Researcher Affiliations

Liu, Guiqin
  • College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Equine Research Center, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China.
  • College of Agronomy, Liaocheng University, Shandong Engineering Technology Research Center for Efficient Breeding and Ecological Feeding of Black Donkey, Shandong Donkey Industry Technology Collaborative Innovation Center, Liaocheng, Shandong Province, China.
Bou, Gerelchimeg
  • College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Equine Research Center, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China.
Su, Shaofeng
  • College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Equine Research Center, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China.
Xing, Jingya
  • College of Agronomy, Liaocheng University, Shandong Engineering Technology Research Center for Efficient Breeding and Ecological Feeding of Black Donkey, Shandong Donkey Industry Technology Collaborative Innovation Center, Liaocheng, Shandong Province, China.
Qu, Honglei
  • National Engineering Research Center for Gelatin-based Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dong-E-E-Jiao Co. Ltd., Dong-E Country, Shandong Province, China.
Zhang, Xinzhuang
  • College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Equine Research Center, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China.
Wang, Xisheng
  • College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Equine Research Center, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China.
Zhao, Yiping
  • College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Equine Research Center, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China.
Dugarjaviin, Manglai
  • College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Equine Research Center, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Bacteria / classification
  • Bacteria / genetics
  • DNA, Bacterial / analysis
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Equidae
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / genetics
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / microbiology
  • Male
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / analysis
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics

Conflict of Interest Statement

HQ is a paid employee of Dong-E-E-Jiao Co. Ltd. There are no patents, products in development or marketed products to declare. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

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