Abstract
Simple SummaryThe rumen and cecum are two important fermentation organs in ruminants. The acquisition and development of the neonatal microbiome, as well as the difference between these two organs, was important. We performed 16S rRNA gene sequencing to study the diversity, structure and composition of the goat microbial communities between the rumen and cecum from fetus to adulthood. The results revealed the microbial transmission routes from the mother to fetus, and also revealed the establishment and dynamic fluctuations of the gut microbiome from fetus to adulthood in goats.The present study aimed to investigate the colonization process of epithelial bacteria attached to the rumen and intestinal tract tissue during the development of goats after birth. However, this process from fetus to adulthood was very limited. In goats, the rumen and cecum are two important fermentation organs, and it is important to study the acquisition and development of the neonatal microbiome, as well as the difference between these two organs. To characterize the microbial establishment and dynamic changes in the rumen and cecum from fetus to adulthood, we performed 16S rRNA gene sequencing for 106 samples from 47 individuals of nine pregnant mother–fetus pairs and 16 kids from birth up to 6 months. The diversity, structure and composition of the microbial communities were distinct between the rumen and cecum after birth, while they were similar in the fetal period. The study showed a rapid loss and influx of microbes at birth, followed by slight selection after drinking colostrum, and then a strong selection after weaning, suggesting that the establishment and dynamic fluctuations of the gut microbiome undergoes three distinct phases of microbiome progression in life: a conserved phase (during late pregnancy in the fetus), a transitional phase (newborn until weaning), and a stable phase (from weaning to adulthood). The results supported the view that microbes exist in the fetus, and revealed the establishment and dynamic fluctuations of the gut microbiome from fetus to adulthood in goats.
Highlights
IntroductionThe rumen is the organ wherein plant digestion enables the conversion of plant fibers into chemical compounds (acetate, propionate and butyrate), which are subsequently absorbed and digested by the animal [1]
The rumen is the organ wherein plant digestion enables the conversion of plant fibers into chemical compounds, which are subsequently absorbed and digested by the animal [1]
To analyze the composition and diversity of the microbiota, we performed 16S rRNA gene sequencing for all 106 samples from 47 individuals (Figure 1, Supplementary Materials Table S1)
Summary
The rumen is the organ wherein plant digestion enables the conversion of plant fibers into chemical compounds (acetate, propionate and butyrate), which are subsequently absorbed and digested by the animal [1]. The changes in the structural and physiological properties of the rumen with age are linked to the development of rumen microorganisms. The colonization process of the microbiota along different GIT compartments in kids (Capra aegagrus hircus) (0, 14, 28, 42 and 56 days old) could be divided into three stages: initial phase, transit phase, and the relatively stable phase [9]. This process from fetus to adult is poorly understood
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