Multi-omics insights into the response of the gut microbiota and metabolites to albendazole deworming in captive .

BACKGROUND

Parasite infection and deworming treatment affect the host gut microbiota. Exploring the response mechanism of the gut microbiota in () to albendazole deworming treatment is of great value for protecting this critically endangered species.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This study used metataxonomics and metabolomics to explore the responses of the gut microbiota and metabolites of to albendazole deworming treatment. The results showed that deworming significantly reduced the eggs per gram of feces (EPG). The 16S rRNA gene sequencing results showed that the richness and diversity of the gut microbiota in after deworming were significantly increased. Meanwhile, deworming treatment also changed the composition of the gut microbiota. At the genus level, the , , , , and were significantly enriched in the pre-deworming samples. , , and were significantly enriched in the post-deworming samples. Metabolomics analysis revealed that the relative abundance of 382 out of 1,865 metabolites showed significant differences between the pre- and post-deworming samples. Among them, 103 metabolites were annotated based on the HMDB and mainly classified into Prenol lipids, Carboxylic acids and derivatives, and Organooxygen compounds, etc. The KEGG enrichment analysis result indicated that these metabolites were mainly involved in energy, amino acid, lipid, and purine metabolism. Correlation analysis showed that and , whose relative abundances were upregulated after deworming treatment, were positively correlated with Kaempferol, 5,7-Dihydroxy-3-methoxy-4'-prenyloxyflavone, Purpurin, and Rhein, which have anti-parasitic activities. The , with a downregulated relative abundance after deworming treatment, was not only negatively correlated with the above four metabolites, but also positively correlated with Retinyl beta-glucuronide, which is a storage form of vitamin A, and positively correlated with CDP-Choline, which increases the host's susceptibility to and .

CONCLUSION

This study emphasizes that deworming treatment has an impact on the gut microbiota and metabolic functions of . By exploiting the correlations between differential microbiota and metabolites, potential probiotics or prebiotics can be explored, thereby enhancing the efficiency of deworming and reducing its side effects.