Diet diversity and environment determine the intestinal microbiome and bacterial pathogen load of fire salamanders
Abstract Diverse communities of symbiotic microbes inhabit the digestive systems of vertebrates and play a crucial role in animal health, and host diet plays a major role in shaping the composition and diversity of these communities. Here, we characterized diet and gut microbiome of fire salamander...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-98995-6 |
| _version_ | 1818355469289259008 |
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| author | Yu Wang Hannah K. Smith Evy Goossens Lionel Hertzog Molly C. Bletz Dries Bonte Kris Verheyen Luc Lens Miguel Vences Frank Pasmans An Martel |
| author_facet | Yu Wang Hannah K. Smith Evy Goossens Lionel Hertzog Molly C. Bletz Dries Bonte Kris Verheyen Luc Lens Miguel Vences Frank Pasmans An Martel |
| author_sort | Yu Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Diverse communities of symbiotic microbes inhabit the digestive systems of vertebrates and play a crucial role in animal health, and host diet plays a major role in shaping the composition and diversity of these communities. Here, we characterized diet and gut microbiome of fire salamander populations from three Belgian forests. We carried out DNA metabarcoding on fecal samples, targeting eukaryotic 18S rRNA of potential dietary prey items, and bacterial 16S rRNA of the concomitant gut microbiome. Our results demonstrated an abundance of soft-bodied prey in the diet of fire salamanders, and a significant difference in the diet composition between males and females. This sex-dependent effect on diet was also reflected in the gut microbiome diversity, which is higher in males than female animals. Proximity to human activities was associated with increased intestinal pathogen loads. Collectively, the data supports a relationship between diet, environment and intestinal microbiome in fire salamanders, with potential health implications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T19:41:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-659ffeddce7e4f8396b7957f37485b90 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T19:41:49Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-659ffeddce7e4f8396b7957f37485b902022-12-21T23:33:40ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-10-0111111110.1038/s41598-021-98995-6Diet diversity and environment determine the intestinal microbiome and bacterial pathogen load of fire salamandersYu Wang0Hannah K. Smith1Evy Goossens2Lionel Hertzog3Molly C. Bletz4Dries Bonte5Kris Verheyen6Luc Lens7Miguel Vences8Frank Pasmans9An Martel10Wildlife Health Ghent, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology & Avian Diseases, Ghent UniversityWildlife Health Ghent, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology & Avian Diseases, Ghent UniversityDepartment of Pathology, Bacteriology & Avian Diseases, Ghent UniversityTerrestrial Ecology Unit (TEREC), Department of Biology, Ghent UniversityEvolutionary Biology Lab, Zoological Institute, Braunschweig University of TechnologyTerrestrial Ecology Unit (TEREC), Department of Biology, Ghent UniversityForest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent UniversityTerrestrial Ecology Unit (TEREC), Department of Biology, Ghent UniversityEvolutionary Biology Lab, Zoological Institute, Braunschweig University of TechnologyWildlife Health Ghent, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology & Avian Diseases, Ghent UniversityWildlife Health Ghent, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology & Avian Diseases, Ghent UniversityAbstract Diverse communities of symbiotic microbes inhabit the digestive systems of vertebrates and play a crucial role in animal health, and host diet plays a major role in shaping the composition and diversity of these communities. Here, we characterized diet and gut microbiome of fire salamander populations from three Belgian forests. We carried out DNA metabarcoding on fecal samples, targeting eukaryotic 18S rRNA of potential dietary prey items, and bacterial 16S rRNA of the concomitant gut microbiome. Our results demonstrated an abundance of soft-bodied prey in the diet of fire salamanders, and a significant difference in the diet composition between males and females. This sex-dependent effect on diet was also reflected in the gut microbiome diversity, which is higher in males than female animals. Proximity to human activities was associated with increased intestinal pathogen loads. Collectively, the data supports a relationship between diet, environment and intestinal microbiome in fire salamanders, with potential health implications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-98995-6 |
| spellingShingle | Yu Wang Hannah K. Smith Evy Goossens Lionel Hertzog Molly C. Bletz Dries Bonte Kris Verheyen Luc Lens Miguel Vences Frank Pasmans An Martel Diet diversity and environment determine the intestinal microbiome and bacterial pathogen load of fire salamanders Scientific Reports |
| title | Diet diversity and environment determine the intestinal microbiome and bacterial pathogen load of fire salamanders |
| title_full | Diet diversity and environment determine the intestinal microbiome and bacterial pathogen load of fire salamanders |
| title_fullStr | Diet diversity and environment determine the intestinal microbiome and bacterial pathogen load of fire salamanders |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diet diversity and environment determine the intestinal microbiome and bacterial pathogen load of fire salamanders |
| title_short | Diet diversity and environment determine the intestinal microbiome and bacterial pathogen load of fire salamanders |
| title_sort | diet diversity and environment determine the intestinal microbiome and bacterial pathogen load of fire salamanders |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-98995-6 |
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