Different artificial feeding strategies shape the diverse gut microbial communities and functions with the potential risk of pathogen transmission to captive Asian small-clawed otters (<i>Aonyx cinereus</i>).

ABSTRACT: Captive otters raised in zoos are fed different artificial diets, which may shape gut microbiota. The objective is to evaluate the impacts of two different artificial diets on microbial communities and function capabilities and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiles in healthy otters' feces. A total of 16 Asian small-clawed otters in two groups (n = 8) were selected. Group A otters were fed raw loaches supplemented with commercial cat food (LSCF) diet, and group B otters were fed raw crucian diet. The communities and functional capabilities of microbiota in feces were assessed with metagenomic sequencing. Captive otters fed two kinds of diets possessed different gut microbial communities and functional capabilities. Various pathogenic bacteria, like Escherichia coli and Cl

SUBMITTER: Gao Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11651104 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature