Gao Yuanda, Zhang Hangyu, Zhu Dapeng, Guo Long
State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
Foping National Nature Reserve, Hanzhong, China.
mSystems. 2024 Dec 17;9(12):e0095424. doi: 10.1128/msystems.00954-24. Epub 2024 Nov 27.
Captive otters raised in zoos are fed different artificial diets, which may shape gut microbiota. The objective is to evaluate the impacts of two different artificial diets on microbial communities and function capabilities and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiles in healthy otters' feces. A total of 16 Asian small-clawed otters in two groups ( = 8) were selected. Group A otters were fed raw loaches supplemented with commercial cat food (LSCF) diet, and group B otters were fed raw crucian diet. The communities and functional capabilities of microbiota in feces were assessed with metagenomic sequencing. Captive otters fed two kinds of diets possessed different gut microbial communities and functional capabilities. Various pathogenic bacteria, like and , were enriched in the samples from the two groups, respectively. Most of the differential pathways of nutrient metabolism were significantly enriched in group A, and the distributions of carbohydrate enzymes in the two groups significantly differed from each other. Multiple resistance genes markedly accumulated in fecal samples of the group A otters with LSCF diet. Higher concentrations of SCFAs were also observed in group A otters. Two feeding strategies were both likely to facilitate the colonization and expansion of various pathogenic bacteria and the accumulation of resistance genes in the intestines of captive otters, suggesting that risk of pathogen transmission existed in the current feeding process. Commercial cat food could supplement various nutrients and provide a substrate for the production of SCFAs, which might be beneficial for the otters' intestinal fermentation and metabolism.
Captive otters fed with different diets possessed distinct gut microbial communities and functions, with the enrichment of several pathogens and multiple resistance genes in their gut microbiota. The current artificial feeding strategies had the possibility to accelerate the colonization and proliferation of various pathogenic bacteria in the intestines of otters and the spread of resistance genes, increasing the risk of diseases. In addition, supplementation with commercial cat food had benefits for otters' intestinal fermentation and the metabolism of gut microbiota.
动物园中圈养的水獭喂食不同的人工饲料，这可能会塑造肠道微生物群。目的是评估两种不同人工饲料对健康水獭粪便中微生物群落、功能能力和短链脂肪酸（SCFA）谱的影响。总共选取了两组（每组 = 8只）16只亚洲小爪水獭。A组水獭喂食添加商业猫粮的生泥鳅（LSCF）饲料，B组水獭喂食生鲫鱼饲料。采用宏基因组测序评估粪便中微生物群的群落和功能能力。喂食两种饲料的圈养水獭具有不同的肠道微生物群落和功能能力。两组样本中分别富集了各种病原菌，如 和 。A组中大多数营养物质代谢的差异途径显著富集，两组中碳水化合物酶的分布也有显著差异。LSCF饲料喂养的A组水獭粪便样本中多种抗性基因明显积累。A组水獭中还观察到较高浓度的SCFAs。两种喂养策略都可能促进各种病原菌在圈养水獭肠道中的定殖和扩展以及抗性基因的积累，表明当前喂养过程中存在病原体传播风险。商业猫粮可以补充各种营养物质并为SCFAs的产生提供底物，这可能有利于水獭的肠道发酵和代谢。
喂食不同饲料的圈养水獭具有不同的肠道微生物群落和功能，其肠道微生物群中富集了几种病原菌和多种抗性基因。当前的人工喂养策略有可能加速各种病原菌在水獭肠道中的定殖和增殖以及抗性基因的传播，增加疾病风险。此外，补充商业猫粮有利于水獭的肠道发酵和肠道微生物群的代谢。
