Microbial community compositions in the gastrointestinal tract of Chinese Mongolian sheep using Illumina MiSeq sequencing revealed high microbial diversity
Yan Zeng,
Dong Zeng,
Xueqin Ni,
Hui Zhu,
Ping Jian,
Yi Zhou,
Shuai Xu,
Yicen Lin,
Yang Li,
Zhongqiong Yin,
Kangcheng Pan,
Bo Jing
Affiliations
Yan Zeng
Animal Microecology Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University
Dong Zeng
Animal Microecology Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University
Xueqin Ni
Animal Microecology Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University
Hui Zhu
Animal Microecology Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University
Ping Jian
Animal Microecology Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University
Yi Zhou
Animal Microecology Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University
Shuai Xu
Animal Microecology Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University
Yicen Lin
Animal Microecology Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University
Yang Li
Animal Microecology Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University
Zhongqiong Yin
Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province
Kangcheng Pan
Animal Microecology Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University
Bo Jing
Animal Microecology Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University
Abstract Chinese Mongolian sheep are an important ruminant raised for wool and meat production. However, little is known about the microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of Chinese Mongolian sheep. To increase our understanding of the microbial community composition in the GIT of Chinese Mongolian sheep, microbiota of five sheep is investigate for the first time using the Illumina MiSeq platform. High microbial diversity was obtained from the GIT, and the microbiota exhibited a higher biodiversity in the stomach and large intestine than in the small intestine. Firmicutes (44.62%), Bacteroidetes (38.49%), and Proteobacteria (4.11%) were the three most abundant phyla present in the GIT of the sheep. The present study also revealed the core genera of Prevotella, Bacteroides, Ruminococcus, Oscillospira, Treponema, and Desulfovibrio in the GIT. Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States indicated that the metabolic pathway related to carbohydrate metabolism was the richest in the sheep GIT. In addition, a series of metabolic pathways related to plant secondary metabolism was most abundant in the stomach and large intestine than in the small intestine. Overall, the present study provides insight into the microbial community composition in GIT of the Chinese Mongolian sheep which is highly diverse and needs to be studied further to exploit the complex interactions with the host.