Isolation and identification of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria from the feces of wild Korean water deer ().

IMPORTANCE

Understanding the microbial diversity within the gastrointestinal tract of wild Korean water deer (KWD; ) is essential for gaining insights into their health and ecological interactions.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to isolate and identify aerobic and anaerobic bacterial species in the feces of wild KWD.

METHODS

Fecal samples were collected from 55 wild KWD of varying age and sex. Aerobic bacteria were cultured at 37°C for 24-48 h under standard conditions, whereas anaerobic bacteria were cultured at 37°C for 48-72 h in an anaerobic environment. Bacterial identification was conducted using DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction amplification targeting the 16S rRNA gene.

RESULTS

The predominant aerobic bacteria identified belonged to the Firmicutes (58.18%) and Proteobacteria (41.82%) phyla, with (31.82%) and (31.82%) being the most common species. Among anaerobic bacteria, most belonged to the Firmicutes (71.03%), Proteobacteria (27.10%), and Fusobacteriota (1.87%) phyla, with (28.97%) and (22.43%) being the most prevalent species. Other frequently identified anaerobic species were , , , , and .

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Our findings indicate a diverse microbial community in the feces of water deer, offering valuable insights into their gut microbiota and its potential implications for health and ecology.