Preliminary Insights into the Gut Microbiota of Captive Tigers in Republic of Korea: Influence of Geographic and Individual Variation
The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in the health and physiology of tigers (<i>Panthera tigris</i>), influencing digestion, immune function, and overall well-being. While numerous studies have characterized the gut microbiota of domestic carnivores and some wild felids, comparative a...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| author | Beoul Kim Saebom Lee You-Jeong Lee Yong-Myung Kang Man Hee Rhee Dongmi Kwak Yong-Gu Yeo Ju Won Kang Taehwan Kim Min-Goo Seo |
| author_facet | Beoul Kim Saebom Lee You-Jeong Lee Yong-Myung Kang Man Hee Rhee Dongmi Kwak Yong-Gu Yeo Ju Won Kang Taehwan Kim Min-Goo Seo |
| author_sort | Beoul Kim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in the health and physiology of tigers (<i>Panthera tigris</i>), influencing digestion, immune function, and overall well-being. While numerous studies have characterized the gut microbiota of domestic carnivores and some wild felids, comparative analyses across different tiger subspecies under varying environmental contexts remain limited. In this exploratory study, we investigated the gut microbiome diversity and composition of 15 captive tigers, including both Siberian (<i>P. tigris altaica</i>) and Bengal (<i>P. tigris tigris</i>) subspecies, housed in two different regions in Korea. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing of fecal samples, we analyzed microbial diversity across multiple taxonomic levels. Preliminary analyses revealed significant differences in microbial composition between geographic locations, whereas sex-based differences appeared minimal. Alpha and beta diversity metrics demonstrated substantial inter-individual variability, likely influenced by regional and environmental factors. Given the small sample size and the confounding between subspecies and housing location, the findings should be regarded as preliminary and not generalized beyond this specific cohort. Nevertheless, these insights highlight the potential utility of gut microbiome profiling for health monitoring and management in captive-tiger populations. Future research incorporating larger, more diverse cohorts will be essential to validate these trends and clarify the roles of diet, health status, and enrichment in shaping the gut microbiota. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1df866cece0145d68482f2f2f98eaf01 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj-art-1df866cece0145d68482f2f2f98eaf012025-08-20T02:21:11ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-06-01136142710.3390/microorganisms13061427Preliminary Insights into the Gut Microbiota of Captive Tigers in Republic of Korea: Influence of Geographic and Individual VariationBeoul Kim0Saebom Lee1You-Jeong Lee2Yong-Myung Kang3Man Hee Rhee4Dongmi Kwak5Yong-Gu Yeo6Ju Won Kang7Taehwan Kim8Min-Goo Seo9College of Veterinary Medicine & Institute for Veterinary Biomedical Science, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehak-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu 41566, Republic of KoreaBaekdudaegan National Arboretum, Korean Tiger Coservation Center, 1501 Chunyang-ro, Chunyang-myeon, Bonghwa 36209, Republic of KoreaCollege of Veterinary Medicine & Institute for Veterinary Biomedical Science, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehak-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu 41566, Republic of KoreaCollege of Veterinary Medicine & Institute for Veterinary Biomedical Science, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehak-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu 41566, Republic of KoreaCollege of Veterinary Medicine & Institute for Veterinary Biomedical Science, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehak-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu 41566, Republic of KoreaCollege of Veterinary Medicine & Institute for Veterinary Biomedical Science, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehak-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu 41566, Republic of KoreaConservation and Health Center, Seoul Zoo, 102 Daegongwongwangjang-ro, Gwacheon-si 13829, Republic of KoreaVeterinary Medicine Team, Uchi Park Zoo, 677, Uchi-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 61028, Republic of KoreaBaekdudaegan National Arboretum, Korean Tiger Coservation Center, 1501 Chunyang-ro, Chunyang-myeon, Bonghwa 36209, Republic of KoreaCollege of Veterinary Medicine & Institute for Veterinary Biomedical Science, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehak-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu 41566, Republic of KoreaThe gut microbiome plays a crucial role in the health and physiology of tigers (<i>Panthera tigris</i>), influencing digestion, immune function, and overall well-being. While numerous studies have characterized the gut microbiota of domestic carnivores and some wild felids, comparative analyses across different tiger subspecies under varying environmental contexts remain limited. In this exploratory study, we investigated the gut microbiome diversity and composition of 15 captive tigers, including both Siberian (<i>P. tigris altaica</i>) and Bengal (<i>P. tigris tigris</i>) subspecies, housed in two different regions in Korea. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing of fecal samples, we analyzed microbial diversity across multiple taxonomic levels. Preliminary analyses revealed significant differences in microbial composition between geographic locations, whereas sex-based differences appeared minimal. Alpha and beta diversity metrics demonstrated substantial inter-individual variability, likely influenced by regional and environmental factors. Given the small sample size and the confounding between subspecies and housing location, the findings should be regarded as preliminary and not generalized beyond this specific cohort. Nevertheless, these insights highlight the potential utility of gut microbiome profiling for health monitoring and management in captive-tiger populations. Future research incorporating larger, more diverse cohorts will be essential to validate these trends and clarify the roles of diet, health status, and enrichment in shaping the gut microbiota.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/6/1427tiger gut microbiomemicrobial diversity16S rRNA gene sequencingSiberian tigerBengal tigercaptivity |
| spellingShingle | Beoul Kim Saebom Lee You-Jeong Lee Yong-Myung Kang Man Hee Rhee Dongmi Kwak Yong-Gu Yeo Ju Won Kang Taehwan Kim Min-Goo Seo Preliminary Insights into the Gut Microbiota of Captive Tigers in Republic of Korea: Influence of Geographic and Individual Variation Microorganisms tiger gut microbiome microbial diversity 16S rRNA gene sequencing Siberian tiger Bengal tiger captivity |
| title | Preliminary Insights into the Gut Microbiota of Captive Tigers in Republic of Korea: Influence of Geographic and Individual Variation |
| title_full | Preliminary Insights into the Gut Microbiota of Captive Tigers in Republic of Korea: Influence of Geographic and Individual Variation |
| title_fullStr | Preliminary Insights into the Gut Microbiota of Captive Tigers in Republic of Korea: Influence of Geographic and Individual Variation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Preliminary Insights into the Gut Microbiota of Captive Tigers in Republic of Korea: Influence of Geographic and Individual Variation |
| title_short | Preliminary Insights into the Gut Microbiota of Captive Tigers in Republic of Korea: Influence of Geographic and Individual Variation |
| title_sort | preliminary insights into the gut microbiota of captive tigers in republic of korea influence of geographic and individual variation |
| topic | tiger gut microbiome microbial diversity 16S rRNA gene sequencing Siberian tiger Bengal tiger captivity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/6/1427 |
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