Effects of Feather-Pecking Phenotype on Physiological and Neurobiological Characteristics and Gut Microbiota Profile of Goslings
FP is a detrimental behavior for chickens, ducks, and geese associated with numerous physiological and neurobiological characteristics, which have been identified in many species as regulated by the gut microbiota. However, it is unknown whether and how gut microbiota influences FP by regulating neu...
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2025-07-01
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| author | Mingfeng Wang Yujiao Guo Zhengfeng Cao Qi Xu Guohong Chen Yang Chen |
| author_facet | Mingfeng Wang Yujiao Guo Zhengfeng Cao Qi Xu Guohong Chen Yang Chen |
| author_sort | Mingfeng Wang |
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| description | FP is a detrimental behavior for chickens, ducks, and geese associated with numerous physiological and neurobiological characteristics, which have been identified in many species as regulated by the gut microbiota. However, it is unknown whether and how gut microbiota influences FP by regulating neurotransmitter systems in geese. This study aimed to investigate the phenotypic correlation between feather pecking and changes in physiological, neurobiological, and gut microbiota profiles in gosling. Three behavioral phenotypes were observed in goslings, including severe feather peckers (SFPs), victims of SFPs, and non-peckers (NFPs). The significantly lower feather scores and body weights were observed in victims compared to both SFPs and NFPs (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Regarding the physiological phenotype, victims had higher dopamine (DA) levels than NFPs, and SFPs had lower 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the serum than NFPs (<i>p</i> < 0.001), with intermediate 5-HT levels in victims. Victims had lower glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) compared to SFPs and NFPs (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Moreover, higher mRNA expression levels of HTR1A, SLC6A4, and TPH2 in the 5-HT metabolic pathway were detected in NFPs than those in SFPs and victims (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In addition, regarding gut microbiota measured by 16S rRNA sequencing, SFPs had lower diversity and comparable cecal microbiota compared to victims and NFPs. <i>Proteobacteria</i>, <i>Verrucomicrobia</i>, <i>Ruminococcus</i> spp., and <i>Bilophila</i> spp. were enriched in SFPs, while <i>Bacteroides</i> and <i>Parabacteroides</i> were enriched in NFPs. From the predicted bacterial functional genes, the cAMP signaling pathway, cGMP–PKG signaling pathway, and pyruvate metabolism were activated in SFPs. The correlation analysis revealed that the genera <i>Bacteroides</i> spp. were associated with differences in 5-HT metabolism between the SFPs and NFPs. In summary, differences in the cecal microbiota profile and 5-HT metabolism drive FP phenotypes, which could be associated with the reduced gut abundance of the genera <i>Bacteroides</i> spp. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fe556ee9e3d640dca06490cdf8737f08 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-fe556ee9e3d640dca06490cdf8737f082025-08-20T03:55:49ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-07-011514212210.3390/ani15142122Effects of Feather-Pecking Phenotype on Physiological and Neurobiological Characteristics and Gut Microbiota Profile of GoslingsMingfeng Wang0Yujiao Guo1Zhengfeng Cao2Qi Xu3Guohong Chen4Yang Chen5College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, ChinaFP is a detrimental behavior for chickens, ducks, and geese associated with numerous physiological and neurobiological characteristics, which have been identified in many species as regulated by the gut microbiota. However, it is unknown whether and how gut microbiota influences FP by regulating neurotransmitter systems in geese. This study aimed to investigate the phenotypic correlation between feather pecking and changes in physiological, neurobiological, and gut microbiota profiles in gosling. Three behavioral phenotypes were observed in goslings, including severe feather peckers (SFPs), victims of SFPs, and non-peckers (NFPs). The significantly lower feather scores and body weights were observed in victims compared to both SFPs and NFPs (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Regarding the physiological phenotype, victims had higher dopamine (DA) levels than NFPs, and SFPs had lower 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the serum than NFPs (<i>p</i> < 0.001), with intermediate 5-HT levels in victims. Victims had lower glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) compared to SFPs and NFPs (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Moreover, higher mRNA expression levels of HTR1A, SLC6A4, and TPH2 in the 5-HT metabolic pathway were detected in NFPs than those in SFPs and victims (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In addition, regarding gut microbiota measured by 16S rRNA sequencing, SFPs had lower diversity and comparable cecal microbiota compared to victims and NFPs. <i>Proteobacteria</i>, <i>Verrucomicrobia</i>, <i>Ruminococcus</i> spp., and <i>Bilophila</i> spp. were enriched in SFPs, while <i>Bacteroides</i> and <i>Parabacteroides</i> were enriched in NFPs. From the predicted bacterial functional genes, the cAMP signaling pathway, cGMP–PKG signaling pathway, and pyruvate metabolism were activated in SFPs. The correlation analysis revealed that the genera <i>Bacteroides</i> spp. were associated with differences in 5-HT metabolism between the SFPs and NFPs. In summary, differences in the cecal microbiota profile and 5-HT metabolism drive FP phenotypes, which could be associated with the reduced gut abundance of the genera <i>Bacteroides</i> spp.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/14/2122feather peckinggosling5-HTmicrobiota–gut–brain axis |
| spellingShingle | Mingfeng Wang Yujiao Guo Zhengfeng Cao Qi Xu Guohong Chen Yang Chen Effects of Feather-Pecking Phenotype on Physiological and Neurobiological Characteristics and Gut Microbiota Profile of Goslings Animals feather pecking gosling 5-HT microbiota–gut–brain axis |
| title | Effects of Feather-Pecking Phenotype on Physiological and Neurobiological Characteristics and Gut Microbiota Profile of Goslings |
| title_full | Effects of Feather-Pecking Phenotype on Physiological and Neurobiological Characteristics and Gut Microbiota Profile of Goslings |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Feather-Pecking Phenotype on Physiological and Neurobiological Characteristics and Gut Microbiota Profile of Goslings |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Feather-Pecking Phenotype on Physiological and Neurobiological Characteristics and Gut Microbiota Profile of Goslings |
| title_short | Effects of Feather-Pecking Phenotype on Physiological and Neurobiological Characteristics and Gut Microbiota Profile of Goslings |
| title_sort | effects of feather pecking phenotype on physiological and neurobiological characteristics and gut microbiota profile of goslings |
| topic | feather pecking gosling 5-HT microbiota–gut–brain axis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/14/2122 |
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