Establishment and maturation of gut microbiota in White King pigeon squabs: role of pigeon milk
BackgroundPigeons are significant economic animals in China; however, research regarding the establishment and influencing factors of gut microbiota in squabs remains limited. Understanding how the gut microbiota develops in pigeons, particularly in relation to pigeon milk, is importance in pigeon p...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1481529/full |
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| author | Xiaoqin Xu Xiaoqin Xu Zihan Wang Zihan Wang Yi Jian Long Zhang Long Zhang Caiquan Zhou Caiquan Zhou Li Liu Hui Liu |
| author_facet | Xiaoqin Xu Xiaoqin Xu Zihan Wang Zihan Wang Yi Jian Long Zhang Long Zhang Caiquan Zhou Caiquan Zhou Li Liu Hui Liu |
| author_sort | Xiaoqin Xu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundPigeons are significant economic animals in China; however, research regarding the establishment and influencing factors of gut microbiota in squabs remains limited. Understanding how the gut microbiota develops in pigeons, particularly in relation to pigeon milk, is importance in pigeon production. This study aims to elucidate the establishment characteristics of the gut microbiota in White King pigeon squabs and explore the role of pigeon milk in this process.MethodsThis study employed 16S rRNA sequencing technology to investigate the dynamics of microbial composition in feces and pigeon milk at various growth stages of White King pigeon. Functional prediction analysis was performed to assess the metabolic pathways involved, and correlation analysis was used to explore the relationships between microbial communities in different sample types.ResultsThe findings revealed a diverse microbiome present in the meconium of newborn pigeons, with a microbial composition that significantly differed from that of other feces groups. In contrast, the microbial composition of feces (FN) from pigeons aged 7 to 21 days exhibited less variability. At the phylum level, the predominant microbial taxa identified in the feces of FN were Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota, and Proteobacteria. At the genus level, the main dominant bacterial groups included Lactobacillus, Limosilactobacillus, and Turicibacter. Functional prediction analysis indicated that the gut microbiota of pigeons primarily participate in metabolic pathways related to carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, cofactors, and vitamins. Furthermore, the dominant bacteria found in pigeon milk (MN) were identified as probiotics, including Limosilactobacillus, Ligilactobacillus, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Aeriscardovia, which collectively accounted for over 90% of the total abundance. Correlation analysis of the abundance of shared microbes revealed that the association between meconium and feces at the other stages was extremely low. In contrast, the correlation between colostrum and feces at the post-feeding stage were found to be the highest.ConclusionThis study indicates that prenatal colonization occurs in White King pigeons. Notably, within the first week after birth, the gut microbial composition of young pigeons becomes stable. Furthermore, the colostrum serves as the most significant driver for the establishment of intestinal microbiota in squab post-birth. The findings of this study suggest that microorganisms can be added to artificial pigeon milk based on the predominant microbial composition of colostrum. This approach could facilitate the establishment of gut microbiota in young pigeons, thereby promoting their growth and development and providing production benefits. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7a42b6ad46814bea92ce5310fe3786a2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-302X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-7a42b6ad46814bea92ce5310fe3786a22025-01-14T06:10:22ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2025-01-011510.3389/fmicb.2024.14815291481529Establishment and maturation of gut microbiota in White King pigeon squabs: role of pigeon milkXiaoqin Xu0Xiaoqin Xu1Zihan Wang2Zihan Wang3Yi Jian4Long Zhang5Long Zhang6Caiquan Zhou7Caiquan Zhou8Li Liu9Hui Liu10Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, ChinaInstitute of Ecology, China West Normal University, Nanchong, ChinaKey Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, China West Normal University, Nanchong, ChinaKey Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, ChinaKey Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, ChinaInstitute of Ecology, China West Normal University, Nanchong, ChinaKey Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, ChinaInstitute of Ecology, China West Normal University, Nanchong, ChinaAgricultural Technique Promotion Station of Nanchong, Nanchong, ChinaYingshan Fucheng Meat Pigeon Breeding Professional Cooperative, Nanchong, ChinaBackgroundPigeons are significant economic animals in China; however, research regarding the establishment and influencing factors of gut microbiota in squabs remains limited. Understanding how the gut microbiota develops in pigeons, particularly in relation to pigeon milk, is importance in pigeon production. This study aims to elucidate the establishment characteristics of the gut microbiota in White King pigeon squabs and explore the role of pigeon milk in this process.MethodsThis study employed 16S rRNA sequencing technology to investigate the dynamics of microbial composition in feces and pigeon milk at various growth stages of White King pigeon. Functional prediction analysis was performed to assess the metabolic pathways involved, and correlation analysis was used to explore the relationships between microbial communities in different sample types.ResultsThe findings revealed a diverse microbiome present in the meconium of newborn pigeons, with a microbial composition that significantly differed from that of other feces groups. In contrast, the microbial composition of feces (FN) from pigeons aged 7 to 21 days exhibited less variability. At the phylum level, the predominant microbial taxa identified in the feces of FN were Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota, and Proteobacteria. At the genus level, the main dominant bacterial groups included Lactobacillus, Limosilactobacillus, and Turicibacter. Functional prediction analysis indicated that the gut microbiota of pigeons primarily participate in metabolic pathways related to carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, cofactors, and vitamins. Furthermore, the dominant bacteria found in pigeon milk (MN) were identified as probiotics, including Limosilactobacillus, Ligilactobacillus, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Aeriscardovia, which collectively accounted for over 90% of the total abundance. Correlation analysis of the abundance of shared microbes revealed that the association between meconium and feces at the other stages was extremely low. In contrast, the correlation between colostrum and feces at the post-feeding stage were found to be the highest.ConclusionThis study indicates that prenatal colonization occurs in White King pigeons. Notably, within the first week after birth, the gut microbial composition of young pigeons becomes stable. Furthermore, the colostrum serves as the most significant driver for the establishment of intestinal microbiota in squab post-birth. The findings of this study suggest that microorganisms can be added to artificial pigeon milk based on the predominant microbial composition of colostrum. This approach could facilitate the establishment of gut microbiota in young pigeons, thereby promoting their growth and development and providing production benefits.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1481529/full16S rRNA sequencingmicrobiotapigeon milkfecesshared microbes |
| spellingShingle | Xiaoqin Xu Xiaoqin Xu Zihan Wang Zihan Wang Yi Jian Long Zhang Long Zhang Caiquan Zhou Caiquan Zhou Li Liu Hui Liu Establishment and maturation of gut microbiota in White King pigeon squabs: role of pigeon milk Frontiers in Microbiology 16S rRNA sequencing microbiota pigeon milk feces shared microbes |
| title | Establishment and maturation of gut microbiota in White King pigeon squabs: role of pigeon milk |
| title_full | Establishment and maturation of gut microbiota in White King pigeon squabs: role of pigeon milk |
| title_fullStr | Establishment and maturation of gut microbiota in White King pigeon squabs: role of pigeon milk |
| title_full_unstemmed | Establishment and maturation of gut microbiota in White King pigeon squabs: role of pigeon milk |
| title_short | Establishment and maturation of gut microbiota in White King pigeon squabs: role of pigeon milk |
| title_sort | establishment and maturation of gut microbiota in white king pigeon squabs role of pigeon milk |
| topic | 16S rRNA sequencing microbiota pigeon milk feces shared microbes |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1481529/full |
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