Unraveling the distinctive gut microbiome of khulans (Equus hemionus hemionus) in comparison to their drinking water and closely related equids
Abstract The microbial composition of host-associated microbiomes is influenced by co-evolutionary interactions, host genetics, domestication, and the environment. This study investigates the contribution of environmental microbiota from freshwater bodies to the gastrointestinal microbiomes of wild...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87216-z |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832585948396781568 |
|---|---|
| author | Víctor Hugo Jarquín-Díaz Anisha Dayaram Eirini S. Soilemetzidou Amelie Desvars-Larrive Julia Bohner Bayarbaatar Buuveibaatar Petra Kaczensky Chris Walzer Alex D. Greenwood Ulrike Löber |
| author_facet | Víctor Hugo Jarquín-Díaz Anisha Dayaram Eirini S. Soilemetzidou Amelie Desvars-Larrive Julia Bohner Bayarbaatar Buuveibaatar Petra Kaczensky Chris Walzer Alex D. Greenwood Ulrike Löber |
| author_sort | Víctor Hugo Jarquín-Díaz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The microbial composition of host-associated microbiomes is influenced by co-evolutionary interactions, host genetics, domestication, and the environment. This study investigates the contribution of environmental microbiota from freshwater bodies to the gastrointestinal microbiomes of wild khulans (Equus hemionus hemionus, n = 21) and compares them with those of captive khulans (n = 12) and other equids—Przewalski’s horse (n = 82) and domestic horse (n = 26). Using PacBio technology and the LotuS pipeline for 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we analyze microbial diversity and conduct differential abundance, alpha, and beta diversity analyses. Results indicate limited microbial sharing between wild khulans and their waterhole environments, suggesting minimal environmental influence on their gut microbiomes and low levels of water contamination by khulans. Wild khulans exhibit greater microbial diversity and richness compared to captive ones, likely due to adaptations to the harsh nutritional conditions of the Gobi desert. Conversely, captive khulans show reduced microbial diversity, potentially affected by dietary changes during captivity. These findings highlight the significant impact of environment and lifestyle on the gut microbiomes of equids. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d500aff355894ee79c526f1b8ccd917e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-d500aff355894ee79c526f1b8ccd917e2025-01-26T12:23:58ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-87216-zUnraveling the distinctive gut microbiome of khulans (Equus hemionus hemionus) in comparison to their drinking water and closely related equidsVíctor Hugo Jarquín-Díaz0Anisha Dayaram1Eirini S. Soilemetzidou2Amelie Desvars-Larrive3Julia Bohner4Bayarbaatar Buuveibaatar5Petra Kaczensky6Chris Walzer7Alex D. Greenwood8Ulrike Löber9Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ResearchMax-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC)Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC)Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary MedicineMax-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC)Wildlife Conservation SocietyResearch Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary MedicineResearch Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary MedicineMax-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC)Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ResearchAbstract The microbial composition of host-associated microbiomes is influenced by co-evolutionary interactions, host genetics, domestication, and the environment. This study investigates the contribution of environmental microbiota from freshwater bodies to the gastrointestinal microbiomes of wild khulans (Equus hemionus hemionus, n = 21) and compares them with those of captive khulans (n = 12) and other equids—Przewalski’s horse (n = 82) and domestic horse (n = 26). Using PacBio technology and the LotuS pipeline for 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we analyze microbial diversity and conduct differential abundance, alpha, and beta diversity analyses. Results indicate limited microbial sharing between wild khulans and their waterhole environments, suggesting minimal environmental influence on their gut microbiomes and low levels of water contamination by khulans. Wild khulans exhibit greater microbial diversity and richness compared to captive ones, likely due to adaptations to the harsh nutritional conditions of the Gobi desert. Conversely, captive khulans show reduced microbial diversity, potentially affected by dietary changes during captivity. These findings highlight the significant impact of environment and lifestyle on the gut microbiomes of equids.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87216-zMicrobiomeEquus hemionus hemionusFreshwater microbiota16S rRNA full length gene sequencingPacBioGobi Desert |
| spellingShingle | Víctor Hugo Jarquín-Díaz Anisha Dayaram Eirini S. Soilemetzidou Amelie Desvars-Larrive Julia Bohner Bayarbaatar Buuveibaatar Petra Kaczensky Chris Walzer Alex D. Greenwood Ulrike Löber Unraveling the distinctive gut microbiome of khulans (Equus hemionus hemionus) in comparison to their drinking water and closely related equids Scientific Reports Microbiome Equus hemionus hemionus Freshwater microbiota 16S rRNA full length gene sequencing PacBio Gobi Desert |
| title | Unraveling the distinctive gut microbiome of khulans (Equus hemionus hemionus) in comparison to their drinking water and closely related equids |
| title_full | Unraveling the distinctive gut microbiome of khulans (Equus hemionus hemionus) in comparison to their drinking water and closely related equids |
| title_fullStr | Unraveling the distinctive gut microbiome of khulans (Equus hemionus hemionus) in comparison to their drinking water and closely related equids |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unraveling the distinctive gut microbiome of khulans (Equus hemionus hemionus) in comparison to their drinking water and closely related equids |
| title_short | Unraveling the distinctive gut microbiome of khulans (Equus hemionus hemionus) in comparison to their drinking water and closely related equids |
| title_sort | unraveling the distinctive gut microbiome of khulans equus hemionus hemionus in comparison to their drinking water and closely related equids |
| topic | Microbiome Equus hemionus hemionus Freshwater microbiota 16S rRNA full length gene sequencing PacBio Gobi Desert |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87216-z |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT victorhugojarquindiaz unravelingthedistinctivegutmicrobiomeofkhulansequushemionushemionusincomparisontotheirdrinkingwaterandcloselyrelatedequids AT anishadayaram unravelingthedistinctivegutmicrobiomeofkhulansequushemionushemionusincomparisontotheirdrinkingwaterandcloselyrelatedequids AT eirinissoilemetzidou unravelingthedistinctivegutmicrobiomeofkhulansequushemionushemionusincomparisontotheirdrinkingwaterandcloselyrelatedequids AT ameliedesvarslarrive unravelingthedistinctivegutmicrobiomeofkhulansequushemionushemionusincomparisontotheirdrinkingwaterandcloselyrelatedequids AT juliabohner unravelingthedistinctivegutmicrobiomeofkhulansequushemionushemionusincomparisontotheirdrinkingwaterandcloselyrelatedequids AT bayarbaatarbuuveibaatar unravelingthedistinctivegutmicrobiomeofkhulansequushemionushemionusincomparisontotheirdrinkingwaterandcloselyrelatedequids AT petrakaczensky unravelingthedistinctivegutmicrobiomeofkhulansequushemionushemionusincomparisontotheirdrinkingwaterandcloselyrelatedequids AT chriswalzer unravelingthedistinctivegutmicrobiomeofkhulansequushemionushemionusincomparisontotheirdrinkingwaterandcloselyrelatedequids AT alexdgreenwood unravelingthedistinctivegutmicrobiomeofkhulansequushemionushemionusincomparisontotheirdrinkingwaterandcloselyrelatedequids AT ulrikelober unravelingthedistinctivegutmicrobiomeofkhulansequushemionushemionusincomparisontotheirdrinkingwaterandcloselyrelatedequids |