Abstract
Dampness-heat diarrhea (DHD), a common syndrome in Chinese dairy farms, is mainly resulted from digestive system disorders, and accompanied with metabolic disorders in some cases. However, the underlying mechanisms in the intestinal microbiome and plasma metabolome in calves with DHD remain unclear. In order to investigate the pathogenesis of DHD in calves, multi-omics techniques including the 16S rDNA gene sequencing and metabolomics were used to analyze gut microbial compositions and plasma metabolic changes in calves. The results indicated that DHD had a significant effect on the intestinal microbial compositions in calves, which was confirmed by changes in microbial population and distribution. A total of 14 genera were changed, including Escherichia-Shigella, Bacteroides, and Fournierella, in calves with DHD (P < 0.05). Functional analysis based on the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) annotations indicated that 11 metabolic functions (level 2) were significantly enriched in DHD cases. The untargeted metabolomics analysis showed that 440 metabolites including bilineurin, phosphatidylcholine, and glutamate were significantly different between two groups (VIP > 1 and P < 0.05), and they were related to 67 signal pathways. Eight signal pathways including alpha-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, and glycerophospholipid metabolism were significantly enriched (P < 0.05), which may be potential biomarkers of plasma in calves with DHD. Further, 107 pairs of intestinal microbiota-plasma metabolite correlations were determined, e.g., Escherichia-Shigella was significantly associated with changes of sulfamethazine, butyrylcarnitine, and 14 other metabolites, which reflected that metabolic activity was influenced by the microbiome. These microbiota-metabolite pairs might have a relationship with DHD in calves. In conclusion, the findings revealed that DHD had effect on intestinal microbial compositions and plasma metabolome in calves, and the altered metabolic pathways and microorganisms might serve as diagnostic markers and potential therapeutic targets for DHD in calves.
Highlights
Diarrhea, the most common disease in calves, is one of the major causes of economic loss in cattle herds worldwide [1, 2]
The difference in fecal microbiome and plasma metabolic profile between dampnessheat diarrhea (DHD) calves and healthy calves was detected by 16S ribosomal DNA gene sequencing and metabolomics, and the results revealed that DHD had effect on intestinal microbial compositions and plasma metabolome, and the altered metabolic pathways and microorganisms might serve as diagnostic markers and potential therapeutic targets for DHD in calves
The fecal microbiome diversity of calves with DHD was investigated by 16S rDNA gene sequencing
Summary
The most common disease in calves, is one of the major causes of economic loss in cattle herds worldwide [1, 2]. The rational use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to treat this disease has certain advantages [8]. According to the clinical symptoms, diarrhea can be divided into dampnessheat diarrhea (DHD), spleen deficiency diarrhea, and kidney deficiency diarrhea [9–11]. DHD is one of the most common syndromes in Chinese cattle herds. According to traditional Chinese veterinary medicine (TCVM), DHD is usually caused by the exogenous heat and dampness toxin pathogens invading the intestine [12]. The main clinical symptoms of DHD in calves are hyperthermia, sticky and loose stools with blood and mucus, red tongue, and thick greasy tongue-coating [9, 13]. This study provides new insights on understanding the pathogenesis and rational treatment of DHD in calves
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
