Different rearing conditions alter gut microbiota composition and host physiology in Shaoxing ducks

Shumei Wang,Guoqin Li,Maozhang He,Li Chen,Lizhi Lu,Rurong Wu,Junda Shen,Zhengrong Tao

doi:10.1038/s41598-018-25760-7

Abstract

Emerging evidences have linked the gut microbiota to poultry physiology. Gut microbiota composition in Shaoxing ducks were profiled under different rearing conditions: raised on the litter floor and the plastic mesh floor. A total of 46 and 39 luminal content samples from the duodenum, ileum, and cecum of the ducks reared under the two conditions were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing analysis. Proteobacteria (48.66%), Proteobacteria (33.38%), and Bacteroidetes (55.35%) were the dominant phyla in the duodenum, ileum, and cecum of the ducks reared on the litter floor respectively, while Firmicutes (30.80%), Firmicutes (66.62%) and Bacteroidetes (47.15%) were the topmost phyla in the duodenum, ileum, and cecum of the ducks reared on the plastic mesh floor. Physiologically, the height of villi and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the ileum and duodenum were significantly greater in the ducks reared on plastic mesh floor. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that the gut microbiota was significantly associated with the duck phenotypes, such as chest depth and serum estradiol levels (p < 0.05), which were altered by the different rearing conditions. Collectively, our results showed that the rearing floor types have an important effect on the gastrointestinal microbial composition of ducks.

Highlights

The gut microbes of poultry and livestock play an essential role in the nutrient digestion and absorption, immune system development, and host protection against pathogens
The dominant phyla in the ducks raised on the plastic mesh floor (RPMF) were the Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes
Bacteroidetes was the most abundant phylum in the cecum, while Proteobacteria was dominant in the duodenum and ileum

Summary

Introduction

The gut microbes of poultry and livestock play an essential role in the nutrient digestion and absorption, immune system development, and host protection against pathogens. Previous studies have demonstrated that diets[3,4], breeding patterns, ages, and feed additives can impact the poultry gut microbes with respect to diversity, composition, and community structure[5,6]. Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria are the dominant phyla in poultry gut lumen This bacterial community structure changes dynamically at different growth phases. The small intestine, which consists of three different sections: the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, is the portion of the digestive tract that connects the stomach and the large intestine It contains small finger-like projections called villi, which increase the surface area of the intestine and is composed of specialized cells that transport different types of substances into the bloodstream. A recent study revealed that the gut microbiota of barn raised ducks contained a significant population of Bacteroidetes in addition to Proteobacteria and Firmicutes at later developmental stages, though this phylum was absent in aviary raised ducks[5]. The data provide a reference for further studies of the Shaoxing ducks and may improve the duck husbandry to increase egg-yields and decrease incidence of diseases

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion