Open AccessAssessment of the Fecal Microbiota in Beef Calves
Author(s) -
Weese J.S.,
Jelinski M.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of veterinary internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.356
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1939-1676
pISSN - 0891-6640
DOI - 10.1111/jvim.14611
Subject(s) - firmicutes , clostridia , actinobacteria , feces , clostridiales , biology , veterinary medicine , proteobacteria , zoology , clostridiaceae , microbiology and biotechnology , 16s ribosomal rna , medicine , bacteria , genetics , toxin
Background There is increasing interest in the fecal microbiota, but study in calves has been limited. Hypothesis/Objectives To evaluate the fecal microbiota of beef calves and cows on different farms, and to preliminarily explore the impact of antimicrobial exposure. Animals A total of 172 animals, 156 (91%) calves and 16 (9.3%) cows, were enrolled from 5 cow‐calf farms. Methods The fecal bacterial microbiota was assessed through sequencing of 16S rRNA gene (V4 region) amplicons. Results There were significant differences in the relative abundances of numerous phyla between calves on different farms. Farms could be separated into 2 groups: 1 (farms B and C) dominated by Firmicutes and 1 (farms A, D, and E) with predominance of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. Richness (median 2,974 versus 1,477, P = .008), diversity (51.4 versus 29.1, P = .0029), and evenness (0.73 versus 0.68, P = .006) were higher in cows. Over‐represented operational taxonomic units ( OTU s) in cows tended to be from the classes Bacilli and Bacteroidia, whereas Clostridia and Actinobacteria were most prominently over‐represented in calves. There were differences in community membership ( P = .028) and structure ( P = .029) in calves that had a history of antimicrobial exposure compared those that did not. Eight (89%) over‐represented OTU s in the untreated group were Firmicutes (7 from the order Clostridiales), compared to only 3 (38%) (2 Clostridiales) in the untreated group. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Interfarm variation should be investigated to determine the causes and potential implications for health and production. Antimicrobial exposure may have an impact on the fecal microbiota at individual and farm levels.