Spatial heterogeneity determines the gastrointestinal microbiome signatures in Pekin ducks.

ABSTRACT: The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) hosts a complex and abundant microbial ecosystem that is essential for maintaining animal health and optimizing production performance. However, most studies have been confined to individual intestinal segments, underscoring the need for a more holistic understanding of microbial communities across various GIT segments in animals, including Pekin ducks which is important to global poultry meat production. Here, we conducted 16S rRNA sequencing to characterize the microbial landscape along four GIT segments in 313 Pekin ducks (raised with commercial diet) and correlated them with blood biochemical indicators at day 42. Analyses of microbial composition, diversity, functional potential, and co-occurrence networks revealed significant spatial heterogeneity in

SUBMITTER: Zhao H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12596953 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature