Effects of rearing mode on gastro-intestinal microbiota and development, immunocompetence, sanitary status and growth performance of lambs from birth to two months of age
Abstract Background Artificial rearing system, commonly used in prolific sheep breeds, is associated to increased mortality and morbidity rates before weaning, which might be linked to perturbations in digestive tract maturation, including microbiota colonization. This study evaluated the effect of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Animal Microbiome |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s42523-023-00255-7 |
| _version_ | 1827894888592572416 |
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| author | Lysiane Dunière Philippe Ruiz Yacine Lebbaoui Laurie Guillot Mickael Bernard Evelyne Forano Frédérique Chaucheyras-Durand |
| author_facet | Lysiane Dunière Philippe Ruiz Yacine Lebbaoui Laurie Guillot Mickael Bernard Evelyne Forano Frédérique Chaucheyras-Durand |
| author_sort | Lysiane Dunière |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Artificial rearing system, commonly used in prolific sheep breeds, is associated to increased mortality and morbidity rates before weaning, which might be linked to perturbations in digestive tract maturation, including microbiota colonization. This study evaluated the effect of rearing mode (mothered or artificially reared) on the establishment of the rumen and intestinal microbiome of lambs from birth to weaning. We also measured immunological and zootechnical parameters to assess lambs’ growth and health. GIT anatomy as well as rumen and intestinal epithelium gene expression were also analysed on weaned animals to assess possible long-term effects of the rearing practice. Results Total VFA concentrations were higher in mothered lambs at 2 months of age, while artificially-reared lambs had lower average daily gain, a more degraded sanitary status and lower serum IgG concentration in the early growth phase. Metataxonomic analysis revealed higher richness of bacterial and eukaryote populations in mothered vs. artificially-reared lambs in both Rumen and Feces. Beta diversity analysis indicated an evolution of rumen and fecal bacterial communities in mothered lambs with age, not observed in artificially-reared lambs. Important functional microorganisms such as the cellulolytic bacterium Fibrobacter succinogenes and rumen protozoa did not establish correctly before weaning in artificially-reared lambs. Enterobacteriaceae and Escherichia coli were dominant in the fecal microbiota of mothered lambs, but main E. coli virulence genes were not found differential between the two groups, suggesting they are commensal bacteria which could exert a protective effect against pathogens. The fecal microbiota of artificially-reared lambs had a high proportion of lactic acid bacteria taxa. No difference was observed in mucosa gene expression in the two lamb groups after weaning. Conclusions The rearing mode influences gastrointestinal microbiota and health-associated parameters in offspring in early life: rumen maturation was impaired in artificially-reared lambs which also presented altered sanitary status and higher risk of gut dysbiosis. The first month of age is thus a critical period where the gastrointestinal tract environment and microbiota are particularly unstable and special care should be taken in the management of artificially fed newborn ruminants. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:12:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-53017856f56b49d395f76707a4208a6d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2524-4671 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:12:54Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animal Microbiome |
| spelling | doaj.art-53017856f56b49d395f76707a4208a6d2023-07-23T11:27:30ZengBMCAnimal Microbiome2524-46712023-07-015111610.1186/s42523-023-00255-7Effects of rearing mode on gastro-intestinal microbiota and development, immunocompetence, sanitary status and growth performance of lambs from birth to two months of ageLysiane Dunière0Philippe Ruiz1Yacine Lebbaoui2Laurie Guillot3Mickael Bernard4Evelyne Forano5Frédérique Chaucheyras-Durand6Lallemand SAS, CEDEXUniversité Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, UMR 454 MEDIS (Microbiologie Environnement Digestif et Santé)Lallemand SAS, CEDEXLallemand SAS, CEDEXUE 1414 (Unité Expérimentale), INRAEUniversité Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, UMR 454 MEDIS (Microbiologie Environnement Digestif et Santé)Lallemand SAS, CEDEXAbstract Background Artificial rearing system, commonly used in prolific sheep breeds, is associated to increased mortality and morbidity rates before weaning, which might be linked to perturbations in digestive tract maturation, including microbiota colonization. This study evaluated the effect of rearing mode (mothered or artificially reared) on the establishment of the rumen and intestinal microbiome of lambs from birth to weaning. We also measured immunological and zootechnical parameters to assess lambs’ growth and health. GIT anatomy as well as rumen and intestinal epithelium gene expression were also analysed on weaned animals to assess possible long-term effects of the rearing practice. Results Total VFA concentrations were higher in mothered lambs at 2 months of age, while artificially-reared lambs had lower average daily gain, a more degraded sanitary status and lower serum IgG concentration in the early growth phase. Metataxonomic analysis revealed higher richness of bacterial and eukaryote populations in mothered vs. artificially-reared lambs in both Rumen and Feces. Beta diversity analysis indicated an evolution of rumen and fecal bacterial communities in mothered lambs with age, not observed in artificially-reared lambs. Important functional microorganisms such as the cellulolytic bacterium Fibrobacter succinogenes and rumen protozoa did not establish correctly before weaning in artificially-reared lambs. Enterobacteriaceae and Escherichia coli were dominant in the fecal microbiota of mothered lambs, but main E. coli virulence genes were not found differential between the two groups, suggesting they are commensal bacteria which could exert a protective effect against pathogens. The fecal microbiota of artificially-reared lambs had a high proportion of lactic acid bacteria taxa. No difference was observed in mucosa gene expression in the two lamb groups after weaning. Conclusions The rearing mode influences gastrointestinal microbiota and health-associated parameters in offspring in early life: rumen maturation was impaired in artificially-reared lambs which also presented altered sanitary status and higher risk of gut dysbiosis. The first month of age is thus a critical period where the gastrointestinal tract environment and microbiota are particularly unstable and special care should be taken in the management of artificially fed newborn ruminants.https://doi.org/10.1186/s42523-023-00255-7MicrobiotaRumenFecesArtificial rearingLambsIgG |
| spellingShingle | Lysiane Dunière Philippe Ruiz Yacine Lebbaoui Laurie Guillot Mickael Bernard Evelyne Forano Frédérique Chaucheyras-Durand Effects of rearing mode on gastro-intestinal microbiota and development, immunocompetence, sanitary status and growth performance of lambs from birth to two months of age Animal Microbiome Microbiota Rumen Feces Artificial rearing Lambs IgG |
| title | Effects of rearing mode on gastro-intestinal microbiota and development, immunocompetence, sanitary status and growth performance of lambs from birth to two months of age |
| title_full | Effects of rearing mode on gastro-intestinal microbiota and development, immunocompetence, sanitary status and growth performance of lambs from birth to two months of age |
| title_fullStr | Effects of rearing mode on gastro-intestinal microbiota and development, immunocompetence, sanitary status and growth performance of lambs from birth to two months of age |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of rearing mode on gastro-intestinal microbiota and development, immunocompetence, sanitary status and growth performance of lambs from birth to two months of age |
| title_short | Effects of rearing mode on gastro-intestinal microbiota and development, immunocompetence, sanitary status and growth performance of lambs from birth to two months of age |
| title_sort | effects of rearing mode on gastro intestinal microbiota and development immunocompetence sanitary status and growth performance of lambs from birth to two months of age |
| topic | Microbiota Rumen Feces Artificial rearing Lambs IgG |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s42523-023-00255-7 |
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