Impact of coprophagy prevention on the growth performance, serum biochemistry, and intestinal microbiome of rabbits
Abstract Background Coprophagy plays a vital role in maintaining growth and development in many small herbivores. Here, we constructed a coprophagy model by dividing rabbits into three groups, namely, control group (CON), sham-coprophagy prevention group (SCP), and coprophagy prevention group (CP),...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-023-02869-y |
| _version_ | 1797827654335856640 |
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| author | Zhitong Wang Hui He Mengjuan Chen Mengke Ni Dongdong Yuan Hanfang Cai Zhi Chen Ming Li Huifen Xu |
| author_facet | Zhitong Wang Hui He Mengjuan Chen Mengke Ni Dongdong Yuan Hanfang Cai Zhi Chen Ming Li Huifen Xu |
| author_sort | Zhitong Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Coprophagy plays a vital role in maintaining growth and development in many small herbivores. Here, we constructed a coprophagy model by dividing rabbits into three groups, namely, control group (CON), sham-coprophagy prevention group (SCP), and coprophagy prevention group (CP), to explore the effects of coprophagy prevention on growth performance and cecal microecology in rabbits. Results Results showed that CP treatment decreased the feed utilization and growth performance of rabbits. Serum total cholesterol and total triglyceride in the CP group were remarkably lower than those in the other two groups. Furthermore, CP treatment destroyed cecum villi and reduced the content of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in cecum contents. Gut microbiota profiling showed significant differences in the phylum and genus composition of cecal microorganisms among the three groups. At the genus level, the abundance of Oscillospira and Ruminococcus decreased significantly in the CP group. Enrichment analysis of metabolic pathways showed a significantly up-regulated differential metabolic pathway (PWY-7315, dTDP-N-acetylthomosamine biosynthesis) in the CP group compared with that in the CON group. Correlation analysis showed that the serum biochemical parameters were positively correlated with the abundance of Oscillospira, Sutterella, and Butyricimonas but negatively correlated with the abundance of Oxalobacte and Desulfovibrio. Meanwhile, the abundance of Butyricimonas and Parabacteroidesde was positively correlated with the concentration of butyric acid in the cecum. Conclusions In summary, coprophagy prevention had negative effects on serum biochemistry and gut microbiota, ultimately decreasing the growth performance of rabbits. The findings provide evidence for further revealing the biological significance of coprophagy in small herbivorous mammals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T12:51:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8f8c85c0bb7f472e9ee524ead699a86a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2180 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T12:51:48Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-8f8c85c0bb7f472e9ee524ead699a86a2023-05-14T11:10:20ZengBMCBMC Microbiology1471-21802023-05-0123111110.1186/s12866-023-02869-yImpact of coprophagy prevention on the growth performance, serum biochemistry, and intestinal microbiome of rabbitsZhitong Wang0Hui He1Mengjuan Chen2Mengke Ni3Dongdong Yuan4Hanfang Cai5Zhi Chen6Ming Li7Huifen Xu8College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou UniversityCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural UniversityAbstract Background Coprophagy plays a vital role in maintaining growth and development in many small herbivores. Here, we constructed a coprophagy model by dividing rabbits into three groups, namely, control group (CON), sham-coprophagy prevention group (SCP), and coprophagy prevention group (CP), to explore the effects of coprophagy prevention on growth performance and cecal microecology in rabbits. Results Results showed that CP treatment decreased the feed utilization and growth performance of rabbits. Serum total cholesterol and total triglyceride in the CP group were remarkably lower than those in the other two groups. Furthermore, CP treatment destroyed cecum villi and reduced the content of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in cecum contents. Gut microbiota profiling showed significant differences in the phylum and genus composition of cecal microorganisms among the three groups. At the genus level, the abundance of Oscillospira and Ruminococcus decreased significantly in the CP group. Enrichment analysis of metabolic pathways showed a significantly up-regulated differential metabolic pathway (PWY-7315, dTDP-N-acetylthomosamine biosynthesis) in the CP group compared with that in the CON group. Correlation analysis showed that the serum biochemical parameters were positively correlated with the abundance of Oscillospira, Sutterella, and Butyricimonas but negatively correlated with the abundance of Oxalobacte and Desulfovibrio. Meanwhile, the abundance of Butyricimonas and Parabacteroidesde was positively correlated with the concentration of butyric acid in the cecum. Conclusions In summary, coprophagy prevention had negative effects on serum biochemistry and gut microbiota, ultimately decreasing the growth performance of rabbits. The findings provide evidence for further revealing the biological significance of coprophagy in small herbivorous mammals.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-023-02869-yCaecotrophyGrowth performanceMicrobiomeSCFAsRabbits |
| spellingShingle | Zhitong Wang Hui He Mengjuan Chen Mengke Ni Dongdong Yuan Hanfang Cai Zhi Chen Ming Li Huifen Xu Impact of coprophagy prevention on the growth performance, serum biochemistry, and intestinal microbiome of rabbits BMC Microbiology Caecotrophy Growth performance Microbiome SCFAs Rabbits |
| title | Impact of coprophagy prevention on the growth performance, serum biochemistry, and intestinal microbiome of rabbits |
| title_full | Impact of coprophagy prevention on the growth performance, serum biochemistry, and intestinal microbiome of rabbits |
| title_fullStr | Impact of coprophagy prevention on the growth performance, serum biochemistry, and intestinal microbiome of rabbits |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of coprophagy prevention on the growth performance, serum biochemistry, and intestinal microbiome of rabbits |
| title_short | Impact of coprophagy prevention on the growth performance, serum biochemistry, and intestinal microbiome of rabbits |
| title_sort | impact of coprophagy prevention on the growth performance serum biochemistry and intestinal microbiome of rabbits |
| topic | Caecotrophy Growth performance Microbiome SCFAs Rabbits |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-023-02869-y |
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