Uncovering the Effects of Different Formulae of Milk Powders on the Fecal Microorganisms and Metabolites of Bengal Tiger (<i>Panthera tigris</i> spp. <i>tigris</i>) Cubs
In order to optimize diets for Bengal tiger cubs and improve their health condition and survival rates, we conducted microbiota and metabolomics analyses on fecal samples from Bengal tiger cubs fed goat and dog milk replacer formulae. The results showed that there were significant differences in fec...
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2025-04-01
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| author | Xuanzhen He Tingting Xiao Jing Fang Peng Zhang Shenghui Luo Sufang Han Yuansheng Wu Lizhen Li Zhihao Cao Yuhan Ji Guixin Dong Baichuan Deng |
| author_facet | Xuanzhen He Tingting Xiao Jing Fang Peng Zhang Shenghui Luo Sufang Han Yuansheng Wu Lizhen Li Zhihao Cao Yuhan Ji Guixin Dong Baichuan Deng |
| author_sort | Xuanzhen He |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In order to optimize diets for Bengal tiger cubs and improve their health condition and survival rates, we conducted microbiota and metabolomics analyses on fecal samples from Bengal tiger cubs fed goat and dog milk replacer formulae. The results showed that there were significant differences in fecal microorganisms and metabolites between the two groups. At the phylum level, the major components of the microbial composition in the feces of cubs were Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota and Fusobacteriota. In addition, the abundance of gut microbiota varied significantly between the two groups of tiger cubs. The fecal microbiota of the tiger cubs fed dog milk replacer powder exhibited an increase in probiotic bacteria (<i>Anaerostipes</i> and <i>Clostridium_scindens</i>) (<i>p</i> < 0.05), and the microbial community tended to be more balanced. Metabolomics data further elucidated that feeding different milk formulae significantly affected the fecal metabolites and metabolic pathways in the Bengal tiger cubs. In the dog milk replacer powder group, 76 metabolites were up-regulated (<i>p</i> < 0.05), and 278 metabolites were down-regulated (<i>p</i> < 0.05), particularly affecting the metabolism of vitamin D3, vitamin B5, isoleucine, valine, phenylalanine and oleic acid. At the same time, 19 metabolic pathways were affected (<i>p</i> < 0.05), including the amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism and nucleotide metabolism pathways. In conclusion, this study confirms that milk formula composition affects the gut microbiota and metabolism of Bengal tiger cubs. These findings may provide new insights into how different milk powder formulae and dietary strategies influence the regulation of gut microbiota and overall health in Bengal tiger cubs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-496cb93d5dfb493486273849bfa9edeb |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj-art-496cb93d5dfb493486273849bfa9edeb2025-08-20T03:06:16ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-04-01157105310.3390/ani15071053Uncovering the Effects of Different Formulae of Milk Powders on the Fecal Microorganisms and Metabolites of Bengal Tiger (<i>Panthera tigris</i> spp. <i>tigris</i>) CubsXuanzhen He0Tingting Xiao1Jing Fang2Peng Zhang3Shenghui Luo4Sufang Han5Yuansheng Wu6Lizhen Li7Zhihao Cao8Yuhan Ji9Guixin Dong10Baichuan Deng11Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaChimelong Group Co., Guangzhou 511430, ChinaChimelong Group Co., Guangzhou 511430, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaChimelong Group Co., Guangzhou 511430, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaIn order to optimize diets for Bengal tiger cubs and improve their health condition and survival rates, we conducted microbiota and metabolomics analyses on fecal samples from Bengal tiger cubs fed goat and dog milk replacer formulae. The results showed that there were significant differences in fecal microorganisms and metabolites between the two groups. At the phylum level, the major components of the microbial composition in the feces of cubs were Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota and Fusobacteriota. In addition, the abundance of gut microbiota varied significantly between the two groups of tiger cubs. The fecal microbiota of the tiger cubs fed dog milk replacer powder exhibited an increase in probiotic bacteria (<i>Anaerostipes</i> and <i>Clostridium_scindens</i>) (<i>p</i> < 0.05), and the microbial community tended to be more balanced. Metabolomics data further elucidated that feeding different milk formulae significantly affected the fecal metabolites and metabolic pathways in the Bengal tiger cubs. In the dog milk replacer powder group, 76 metabolites were up-regulated (<i>p</i> < 0.05), and 278 metabolites were down-regulated (<i>p</i> < 0.05), particularly affecting the metabolism of vitamin D3, vitamin B5, isoleucine, valine, phenylalanine and oleic acid. At the same time, 19 metabolic pathways were affected (<i>p</i> < 0.05), including the amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism and nucleotide metabolism pathways. In conclusion, this study confirms that milk formula composition affects the gut microbiota and metabolism of Bengal tiger cubs. These findings may provide new insights into how different milk powder formulae and dietary strategies influence the regulation of gut microbiota and overall health in Bengal tiger cubs.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/7/1053Bengal tiger cubsmilk powderintestinal florafecal metabolites |
| spellingShingle | Xuanzhen He Tingting Xiao Jing Fang Peng Zhang Shenghui Luo Sufang Han Yuansheng Wu Lizhen Li Zhihao Cao Yuhan Ji Guixin Dong Baichuan Deng Uncovering the Effects of Different Formulae of Milk Powders on the Fecal Microorganisms and Metabolites of Bengal Tiger (<i>Panthera tigris</i> spp. <i>tigris</i>) Cubs Animals Bengal tiger cubs milk powder intestinal flora fecal metabolites |
| title | Uncovering the Effects of Different Formulae of Milk Powders on the Fecal Microorganisms and Metabolites of Bengal Tiger (<i>Panthera tigris</i> spp. <i>tigris</i>) Cubs |
| title_full | Uncovering the Effects of Different Formulae of Milk Powders on the Fecal Microorganisms and Metabolites of Bengal Tiger (<i>Panthera tigris</i> spp. <i>tigris</i>) Cubs |
| title_fullStr | Uncovering the Effects of Different Formulae of Milk Powders on the Fecal Microorganisms and Metabolites of Bengal Tiger (<i>Panthera tigris</i> spp. <i>tigris</i>) Cubs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Uncovering the Effects of Different Formulae of Milk Powders on the Fecal Microorganisms and Metabolites of Bengal Tiger (<i>Panthera tigris</i> spp. <i>tigris</i>) Cubs |
| title_short | Uncovering the Effects of Different Formulae of Milk Powders on the Fecal Microorganisms and Metabolites of Bengal Tiger (<i>Panthera tigris</i> spp. <i>tigris</i>) Cubs |
| title_sort | uncovering the effects of different formulae of milk powders on the fecal microorganisms and metabolites of bengal tiger i panthera tigris i spp i tigris i cubs |
| topic | Bengal tiger cubs milk powder intestinal flora fecal metabolites |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/7/1053 |
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