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Applying Advanced In Vitro Culturing Technology to Study the Human Gut Microbiota
Published on: February 15, 2019
Rumen microbiome composition determined using two nutritional models of subacute ruminal acidosis
Ehsan Khafipour1, Shucong Li, Jan C Plaizier
1Department of Animal Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
|September 29, 2009
Summary
Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) in dairy cattle involves shifts in rumen microbiome, with a decline in Bacteroidetes. Escherichia coli abundance correlated with SARA severity and inflammation, suggesting its role in disease onset.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Microbiology
- Animal Science
Background:
- Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) is a metabolic disorder in lactating dairy cattle.
- SARA is characterized by low rumen pH but differs from acute lactic acidosis.
- Potential roles of gut permeability, lipopolysaccharides, and inflammation in SARA etiology are hypothesized, but the rumen microbiome's role is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the rumen microbiome composition during induced SARA in dairy cattle.
- To investigate the relationship between specific microbial shifts and SARA severity and inflammation.
Main Methods:
- Rumen samples from eight lactating Holstein dairy cattle were analyzed.
- Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) of 16S rRNA genes was used.
- Real-time PCR quantified specific bacterial populations, including Prevotella species, Streptococcus bovis, and Escherichia coli.
Main Results:
- TRFLP revealed a predominant decline in gram-negative Bacteroidetes during SARA.
- Bacteroidetes proportion was higher in alfalfa pellet-induced SARA compared to grain-induced SARA.
- Real-time PCR showed dominance of Streptococcus bovis and Escherichia coli in severe grain-induced SARA, Megasphaera elsdenii in mild grain-induced SARA, and Prevotella albensis in alfalfa pellet-induced SARA.
- Discriminant analysis indicated a strong correlation between SARA severity, inflammation, and Escherichia coli abundance.
Conclusions:
- The rumen microbiome composition significantly shifts during SARA.
- Escherichia coli abundance is strongly associated with SARA severity and inflammation.
- Escherichia coli is suspected to be a contributing factor in the onset of SARA.
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