Adult Alphitobius diaperinus Microbial Community during Broiler Production and in Spent Litter after Stockpiling.

Tawni L Crippen,Cynthia L Sheffield,Robin C Anderson,Baneshwar Singh

doi:10.3390/microorganisms10010175

Abstract

The facilities used to raise broiler chickens are often infested with litter beetles (lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus). These beetles have been studied for their carriage of pathogenic microbes; however, a more comprehensive microbiome study on these arthropods is lacking. This study investigated their microbial community in a longitudinal study throughout 2.5 years of poultry production and after the spent litter, containing the mealworms, was piled in pastureland for use as fertilizer. The mean most abundant phyla harbored by the beetles in house were the Proteobacteria (39.8%), then Firmicutes (30.8%), Actinobacteria (21.1%), Tenericutes (5.1%), and Bacteroidetes (1.6%). The community showed a modest decrease in Firmicutes and increase in Proteobacteria over successive flock rotations. The beetles were relocated within the spent litter to pastureland, where they were found at least 19 weeks later. Over time in the pastureland, their microbial profile underwent a large decrease in the percent of Firmicutes (20.5%). The lesser mealworm showed an ability to survive long-term in the open environment within the spent litter, where their microbiome should be further assessed to both reduce the risk of transferring harmful bacteria, as well as to enhance their contribution when the litter is used as a fertilizer.

Highlights

The phylum Arthropoda is the most abundant and diverse clade of animals [1,2]
These beetles carried an active microbiome which could presumably interact with the local environment and insectivores that might feed on the lesser mealworm (LM) in the pastureland
Once in the open environment their microbial community began to change, in the later weeks, and showed major shifts in structure that did not cluster with the earlier weeks, the native soil, nor the post spread litter

Summary

Introduction

The phylum Arthropoda is the most abundant and diverse clade of animals [1,2] The microbes that they harbor either externally or within their gut microbiome are ecologically important as beneficial or pathogenic and are key facilitators of the varied lifestyles of their arthropod hosts. In stored grain products and in the litter and manure pits of poultry operations, it is a pest This arthropod is thought to be native to sub-Saharan Africa, but has been found throughout the world for so long that its actual origins are uncertain. It is a tropical species, so it does well in warm, humid environments such as caves, but in grain silos, and poultry houses, as well.

Methods

Results

Conclusion