Zheng Tingting, Liu Qian, Zheng Chengli, Meng Xiuxiang, Bai Xue, Li Diyan, Wang Tao, Guo Jun, Xu Zhongxian, Jie Hang
Nanchong Key Laboratory of Wildlife Nutrition Ecology and Disease Control, Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637002, China.
Jinfo Mountain Forest Ecosystem Field Scientific Observation and Research Station of Chongqing, Chongqing Institute of Medicinal Plant Cultivation, Nanchuan, Chongqing 404100, China.
Animals (Basel). 2025 May 31;15(11):1622. doi: 10.3390/ani15111622.
Musk, a dried secretion from the sac gland near the urethral foramen of adult male forest musk deer (), has significant economic value and is extensively utilized as a valuable component in traditional Chinese medicine. In the practice of forest musk deer breeding, musk with different colors and varying moisture contents is observed during the season when the musk reaches maturity. For many years, researchers have focused mainly on musk composition and symbiotic bacteria. However, the influence of fecal fungi on the production and quality of musk is unknown. In this study, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) analysis was employed to explore the relationships between the fungal composition of musk deer fecal and the quality and production of musk produced by each individual. The results indicate that fungal genera known to cause diseases, such as and , are prevalent in the feces of musk deer that produce abnormal musk. Furthermore, the fecal microbiota health index (GMHI) is lower and the intestinal microbiota dysbiosis index (MDI) is greater in musk deer producing white musk than in normal individuals. Additionally, by correlating musk production with fecal fungi, we also found that and were significantly positively correlated with musk production. Moreover, , , , , , , and were negatively correlated with musk production. This study is the first to investigate gut fungi in relation to musk production/quality, establish gut health and fungal dysbiosis links, and identify candidate fungi tightly associated with musk traits. This exploratory approach is critical for exploring uncharted territories like gut fungi in musk deer and musk traits.
麝香是成年雄性林麝尿道孔附近香囊分泌的一种干燥分泌物,具有重要的经济价值,被广泛用作中药中的珍贵成分。在林麝养殖实践中,在麝香成熟季节观察到不同颜色和含水量的麝香。多年来,研究人员主要关注麝香成分和共生细菌。然而,粪便真菌对麝香产量和质量的影响尚不清楚。在本研究中,采用内转录间隔区(ITS)分析来探讨林麝粪便真菌组成与每只个体所产麝香的质量和产量之间的关系。结果表明,已知能致病的真菌属,如 和 ,在产出异常麝香的林麝粪便中普遍存在。此外,产出白色麝香的林麝粪便微生物群健康指数(GMHI)较低,肠道微生物群失调指数(MDI)高于正常个体。此外,通过将麝香产量与粪便真菌相关联,我们还发现 和 与麝香产量显著正相关。此外, 、 、 、 、 、 和 与麝香产量呈负相关。本研究首次调查了与麝香产量/质量相关的肠道真菌,建立了肠道健康与真菌失调的联系,并确定了与麝香性状紧密相关的候选真菌。这种探索性方法对于探索林麝肠道真菌和麝香性状等未知领域至关重要。