Interactions between Cryptosporidium, Enterocytozoon, Giardia and Intestinal Microbiota in Bactrian Camels on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China

Xiaoqi Wang,Zhichao Zhang,Ziyuan Duan,Weiwen Yin,Rujing Wang,Qingxun Zhang

doi:10.3390/app11083595

Abstract

Cryptosporidium spp., Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and Giardia duodenalis are zoonotic pathogens commonly found in the intestinal tract of mammalian hosts including livestock and humans. The prevalence of these eukaryote microorganisms in domestic animals and their interaction with intestinal microbiota are not yet fully recognized. We analyzed the intestinal microbiota composition with metagenomics and functional characterization with Cluster of Orthologous (COG) in Bactrian camels, which were raised on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Northwest China. Thus, fecal samples were collected from the animals to determine the parasite infection and the profile of microbiota. Analysis of intestinal microbiota at genus level revealed important features of interaction between parasites infection and bacterial community. Coprococcus and Prevotella were more abundant while Akkermansia had lower relative abundance with E. bieneusi infection. Bacteria of Akkermansia, Lactococcus, Oxalobacter, Sphaerochaeta, Paludibacter, Fibrobacter, Anaerovibrio, Pseudomonas, Mogibacterium, Pseudoramibacter_Eubacterium, YRC22, Flexispira, SMB53, AF12, and Roseburia genera were found under-presented and Oscillospira genus over-presented when G. duodenalis infection was present. Meanwhile, Cryptosporidium spp. and E. bieneusi co-infected animals showed lower relative abundance of Allobaculum, Rikenella, Shuttleworthia, Epulopiscium, Bilophila, Dorea, Fibrobacter, and TG5. Results demonstrate important interaction between the intestinal parasites and microbiota, and provide informative link for understanding the co-evolution of zoonotic pathogens and bacteria in domestic animals.

Highlights

Intestinal microbiota is known to have a considerable impact on the health condition and growth of the host animals
Cryptosporidium spp., Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and Giardia duodenalis as exogenous factors are single-celled eukaryote pathogens found worldwide causing a variety of enteric diseases in mammalian hosts [10,11]; they can be spread in different ways, and drinking and recreational water are the most common mode of transmission [12]
We investigated the prevalence of the three intestinal eukaryote pathogen infection in Bactrian camels inhabiting in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP), analyzed their intestinal microbiota profile further to reveal the specific association between the zoonotic pathogen infection and microbiota diversity and composition

Summary

Introduction

Intestinal microbiota is known to have a considerable impact on the health condition and growth of the host animals. Studies have shown that the intestinal microbiota interacts with the host immune system [1] and affects the nutritional status and metabolism [2] of the host. Many endogenous factors, such as host genotype, age, diet, and gender [3,4,5,6], are known to affect the intestinal microbiota composition and diversity. The exogenous factors including host health status [7], probiotics, and antibiotics [8,9] have effects on the intestinal microecology.

Methods

Results

Conclusion