Vibrio spp.: a potential critical pathogen for mammals with implications beyond marine aquaculture

Species-specific or health status specific microbiome composition of cetaceans is still poorly classified due to the limited samples. Despite a partial identification of the gut microbiota of melon-headed whales (Peponocephala electra), comparative analyses across anatomical systems are lacking. This study provides the first comprehensive analysis of the microbial communities habiting nine body sites - oral cavity, esophagus, foregut, midgut, hindgut, blowhole, and skin wounds (left anterior, dorsal fin, tail) - in a stranded melon-headed whale.

By 16 S rRNA gene sequencing, a decrease in microbial richness was observed from the oral cavity to the hindgut, accompanied by compositional shifts from Fusobacterium-dominated oral/esophageal niches to Vibrio-enriched gastrointestinal regions (21.81% Vibrio, 21.19% Fusobacterium, 12.50% Actinobacillus). The respiratory tract microbiota underwent a significant shift and was dominated by Ostreibacterium (57.5%), Helcococcus (6.59%), and Tenacibaculum (4.12%). Skin wounds showed environmental similarities, with Vibrio (47.84%), Pseudoalteromonas (17.84%), and Psychrobacter (12.36%). Pan-microbiome screening identified seven Vibrio species (V. alginolyticus, V. cidicii, V. cyclitrophicus, V. navarrensis, V. parahaemolyticus, V. salilacus, and V. splendidus) across all niches, along with V. cholerae in non-respiratory samples. Notably, V. profundi was exclusively localized to anterior and dorsal fin wounds. Functional profiling revealed enrichment of Vibrio-linked pathogenesis pathways (infection, pathogenic cycle) and metabolic modules that were correlated with immunocompromised states.

This study revealed significant bidirectional environment-host microbiome exchange dynamics across cetacean mucosal surfaces. Notably, Vibrio spp. emerged as the dominant genus in both gastrointestinal and cutaneous wound microbiomes, highlighting: (1) potential zoonotic transmission risks from pathogenic Vibrio strains, and (2) the critical need for habitat-specific microbial surveillance to inform marine mammal conservation strategies.