Fecal metabolomic analysis of rabbits infected with Eimeria intestinalis and Eimeria magna based on LC-MS/MS technique

Abstract

Rabbit coccidiosis is a common parasitic disease leading to economic losses in the rabbit industry. The intestinal flora plays a key role in pathogenesis of coccidiosis, and fecal metabolome mediates host-microbiome interactions as a functional readout of the gut microbiome. In this study, the E. intestinalis-infected and E. magna-infected rabbit models were established to investigate metabolic alterations and metabolic pathways based on LC-MS/MS technique for the first time. Multivariate OPLS-DA analysis was performed to explore differential metabolites. In total, 288 metabolites were detected from infected and uninfected rabbits. The level of 33 metabolites increased and 4 decreased in rabbits infected with E. intestinalis. Eight pathways were significantly perturbed during E. intestinalis infection including biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, fatty acid biosynthesis, etc. After rabbits infected with E. magna, 13 metabolites were altered and 7 metabolic pathways were dysregulated. These metabolites and metabolic pathways were mainly involved in tuberculosis, parathyroid hormone synthesis, etc. Besides, 25 metabolites differed in abundance between E. intestinalis infection group and E. magna infection group, the major perturbed metabolic pathways were lipid metabolism and endocrine system, respectively. In general, it is confirmed that E. intestinalis and E. magna infection destroyed the intestinal flora, which caused corresponding changes in metabolites, and provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of rabbit-parasite interactions.