College of Life Science, Longyan University, Longyan, China,
Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for the Prevention and Control of Animal Infectious Diseases and Biotechnology, Longyan, China,
Microb Physiol. 2022;32(1-2):18-29. doi: 10.1159/000518395. Epub 2021 Sep 14.
Postnatal colonization and development of the gut microbiota is linked to health and growth. A comprehensive understanding of the postnatal compositional changes and development of the microbial community is helpful to understand the gut health and improve the survival rate of South China tiger cubs (Panthera tigris amoyensis). Fecal samples from three tiger cubs were collected on the day of birth in 2018 (June 17-21 [G0], July 18 [G1], July 31 [G2], and August 7 [G3]). The 16S rRNA genes of the fecal microflora were sequenced. Results showed that 38 phyla, 58 classes, 134 orders, 272 families, and 636 genera of bacteria from 3,059 operational taxonomic units were identified from 12 fecal samples. The diversity and abundance of species of group G0 were significantly higher (p < 0.05 or 0.01) than those of groups G2 and G3. The predominant phylum was Proteobacteria in groups G0 and G1 (38.85% and 48%, respectively) and Firmicutes in groups G2 and G3 (71.42% and 75.29%, respectively). At the phylum level, the abundance of Deinococcus-Thermus was significantly decreased in groups G1, G2, and G3 as compared to group G0 (p < 0.05), while that of Firmicutes was significantly increased in groups G2 and G3 (p < 0.05). At the genus level, the abundance of Faecalibacterium, Ralstonia, and unidentified Rickettsiales was significantly decreased in groups G1, G2, and G3 as compared with group G0 (p < 0.05), while that of Pseudomonas was significantly decreased in groups G2 and G3 (p < 0.05). The composition and structure of fecal microbiota of South China tiger cubs changed after birth.
产后肠道微生物群的定植和发育与健康和生长有关。全面了解微生物群落的产后组成变化和发育有助于了解肠道健康并提高华南虎幼崽（Panthera tigris amoyensis）的存活率。2018 年 6 月 17 日至 21 日（G0）、7 月 18 日（G1）、7 月 31 日（G2）和 8 月 7 日（G3）出生当天收集了三只虎崽的粪便样本。对粪便微生物区系的 16S rRNA 基因进行了测序。结果表明，从 12 个粪便样本中鉴定出了 38 个门、58 个纲、134 个目、272 个科和 636 个属的细菌，共 3059 个操作分类单元。G0 组的多样性和丰度明显高于 G2 组和 G3 组（p<0.05 或 0.01）。优势门在 G0 组和 G1 组中为 Proteobacteria（分别为 38.85%和 48%），在 G2 组和 G3 组中为 Firmicutes（分别为 71.42%和 75.29%）。在门水平上，与 G0 组相比，G1 组、G2 组和 G3 组的 Deinococcus-Thermus 的丰度显著降低（p<0.05），而 Firmicutes 的丰度显著增加（p<0.05）。在属水平上，与 G0 组相比，G1 组、G2 组和 G3 组的 Faecalibacterium、Ralstonia 和未鉴定的 Rickettsiales 的丰度显著降低（p<0.05），而 Pseudomonas 的丰度在 G2 组和 G3 组中显著降低（p<0.05）。华南虎幼崽出生后粪便微生物群的组成和结构发生了变化。
