The anaerobic gut fungal community in ostriches (<i>Struthio camelus</i>).

ABSTRACT: Anaerobic gut fungi (AGF; Neocallimastigomycota) are essential for plant biomass degradation in herbivores. While extensively studied in mammals, information regarding their occurrence, diversity, and community structure in non-mammalian hosts remains sparse. Here, we report on the AGF community in ostriches (Struthio camelus), herbivorous, flightless, hindgut fermenting members of the class Aves (birds). Culture-independent diversity surveys of fecal samples targeting the D2 region of the large ribosomal subunit (28S rRNA) revealed a uniform community with low alpha diversity. The community was mostly comprised of sequences potentially representing two novel species in the genus Piromyces, and a novel genus in the Neocallimastigomycota. Sequences affilia

SUBMITTER: Vinzelj J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11974864 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature