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The Impact of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis on Intestinal Microbial Community Composition and Diversity

Shi-Yuan Xue1, Wei Ma1, Meng-Yuan Li1

  • 1College of Veterinary Medicine, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010010, China.

Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 8, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) infection alters the gut microbiota in sheep. Changes in Firmicutes abundance may indicate MAP infection and its stage, aiding diagnosis and treatment strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Microbiology
  • Ruminant Health
  • Gut Microbiome Research

Background:

  • Paratuberculosis (PTB) is a chronic ruminant infection caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP).
  • Effective prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of ovine PTB remain challenging.
  • Understanding MAP's impact on the gut microbiota is crucial for developing novel interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the alterations in the gut microbiota composition of small-tail Han sheep (STHS) infected with MAP.
  • To identify potential microbial biomarkers for MAP infection diagnosis and staging in sheep.
  • To explore the potential of microbiota modulation for PTB treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Fecal samples were collected from STHS at different infection stages and locations.
  • DNA extraction followed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed.
  • Bioinformatic analysis was used to compare microbial community structures between infected and control groups.

Main Results:

  • The phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidota were the most abundant across all samples.
  • Significant differences in microbial community structure were observed between infected (M1-M6) and control (A-C) groups.
  • Specific microbial consortia, including the order Clostridiales and family Oscillospiraceae, were differentially abundant, with Firmicutes abundance showing potential as a diagnostic biomarker.

Conclusions:

  • MAP infection significantly alters the intestinal microbiota composition in STHS.
  • Changes in Firmicutes abundance can serve as a potential biomarker for early diagnosis and staging of MAP infection.
  • This study provides a foundation for developing microbiota-based therapeutic strategies for ovine PTB.
Keywords:
ChinaMycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosishigh-throughput sequencingmicrobial populationsmall-tail Han sheep

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