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Characterization of the Gut Microbiome and Resistomes of Wild and Zoo-Captive Macaques

Ting Jia1, Wei-Shan Chang2, Vanessa R Marcelino2,3,4

  • 1Beijing Key Laboratory of Captive Wildlife Technologies, Beijing Zoo, Beijing, China.

Frontiers in Veterinary Science
|February 10, 2022
PubMed

Insights

The gut microbiome and antibiotic resistance genes differ between zoo-captive and free-ranging rhesus macaques. Zoo animals showed more antibiotic resistance genes, indicating potential risks in semi-captive wildlife.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genomics
  • Veterinary Science

Background:

  • Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) are vital animal models for human health research.
  • Their gastrointestinal microbiome influences physiology, ecology, and evolution.
  • Understanding their microbiome is crucial for interpreting research findings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare fecal microbiomes and antibiotic resistance genes in free-ranging and zoo-captive rhesus macaques.
  • To identify differences in microbial composition and resistomes between these populations.
  • To assess the impact of captivity on the rhesus macaque microbiome.

Main Methods:

  • Collected fecal samples from free-ranging and zoo-captive rhesus macaques in China.
  • Utilized 16S amplicon sequencing and whole genome shotgun DNA sequencing.
  • Analyzed microbiome composition and antibiotic resistance gene profiles.

Main Results:

  • Microbial diversity and richness were similar across groups.
  • Significant differences in microbiome composition were observed between zoo-captive and free-ranging macaques.
  • Zoo-captive macaques exhibited higher abundance and diversity of antibiotic resistance genes.
  • A simian-associated adenovirus was identified via whole genome sequencing.

Conclusions:

  • Captivity significantly alters the rhesus macaque gut microbiome composition.
  • Zoo-captive macaques harbor a more diverse array of antibiotic resistance genes.
  • Semi-captive wildlife may represent a reservoir for increased antimicrobial resistance diversity.
Keywords:
adenovirusesantimicrobial resistance genecaptive primatesmetagenomicmicrobiomemonkey

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