Comparison of Fecal Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Captive and Wild Asian Elephants
Kaixun Cao,
Yepeng Wang,
Xuewei Bai,
Jishan Wang,
Liting Zhang,
Yongjing Tang,
Rebecca Caroline Thuku,
Wei Hou,
Guoxiang Mo,
Fei Chen,
Lin Jin
Affiliations
Kaixun Cao
College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Yepeng Wang
Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
Xuewei Bai
College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China
Jishan Wang
Asian Elephant Research Center of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Kunming 650031, China
Liting Zhang
College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Yongjing Tang
Asian Elephant Research Center of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Kunming 650031, China
Rebecca Caroline Thuku
Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
Wei Hou
College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China
Guoxiang Mo
College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Fei Chen
Asian Elephant Research Center of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Kunming 650031, China
Lin Jin
Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is a flagship species of tropical rainforests, and it has generated much concern. In this case, the gut bacterial communities of captive and wild Asian elephants are particularly noteworthy. We aim to compare the differences in bacterial diversity and antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) subtypes in fecal samples of Asian elephants from different habitats, which may affect host health. Analyses reveal that differences in the dominant species of gut bacteria between captive and wild Asian elephants may result in significant differences in ARGs. Network analysis of bacterial communities in captive Asian elephants has identified potentially pathogenic species. Many negative correlations in network analysis suggest that different food sources may lead to differences in bacterial communities and ARGs. Results also indicate that the ARG levels in local captive breeding of Asian elephants are close to those of the wild type. However, we found that local captive elephants carry fewer ARG types than their wild counterparts. This study reveals the profile and relationship between bacterial communities and ARGs in different sources of Asian elephant feces, providing primary data for captive breeding and rescuing wild Asian elephants.
