A comparative study of the fecal microbiota of gray seal pups and yearlings ‐ a marine mammal sentinel species

MicrobiologyOpen

Craig A. Watkins¹  Mark P. Dagleish¹  Taylor Gaines¹  Eleanor Watson¹  Johanna L. Baily¹  Andrew Free²  Fiona Strathdee²  Ailsa J. Hall³ 

[1] Department of Vaccines and Diagnostics Moredun Research Institute Penicuik UK;School of Biological Sciences University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK;Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute University of St Andrews St Andrews UK;

关键词: fecal microbiota;    gray seal;    pups;    yearlings;   

DOI  :  10.1002/mbo3.1281

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Gray seals (Halichoerus grypus) can act as sentinel species reflecting the condition of the environment they inhabit. Our previous research identified strains of pathogenic Campylobacter and Salmonella, originating from both human and agricultural animal hosts, on rectal swabs from live gray seal (H. grypus) pups and yearlings on the Isle of May, Scotland, UK. We examined rectal swabs from the same pup (n = 90) and yearling (n = 19) gray seals to gain further understanding into the effects of age‐related changes (pup vs. yearling) and three different natal terrestrial habitats on seal pup fecal microbiota. DNA was extracted from a subset of rectal swabs (pups n = 23, yearlings n = 9) using an optimized procedure, and the V4 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene was sequenced to identify each individual's microbiota. Diversity in pup samples was lower (3.92 ± 0.19) than yearlings (4.66 ± 0.39) although not significant at the p = 0.05 level (p = 0.062) but differences in the composition of the microbiota were (p < 0.001). Similarly, differences between the composition of the microbiota from pups from three different terrestrial habitats (Pilgrim's Haven [PH], Rona Rocks [RR], and Tarbet Slope [TS]) were highly significant (p < 0.001). Pairwise tests showed significant differences between all three habitats: PH versus TS (p = 0.019), PH versus RR (p = 0.042) and TS versus RR (p = 0.020). This preliminary study suggests a general trend, that seal microbiomes are modified by both age and, in pups, different terrestrial habitats. Furthermore, knowledge of the microbiota species present has the potential to be used in determining the environmental quality index.

【 授权许可】

Unknown