title: Decreased microbial diversity and Lactobacillus group in the intestine of geriatric giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca).
abstract: It has been established beyond doubt that giant panda genome lacks lignin-degrading related enzyme, gastrointestinal microbes may play a vital role in digestion of highly fibrous bamboo diet. However, there is not much information available about the intestinal bacteria composition in captive giant pandas with different ages. In this study, we compared the intestinal bacterial community of 12 captive giant pandas from three different age groups (subadults, adults, and geriatrics) through PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and real-time PCR analysis. Results indicated that microbial diversity in the intestine of adults was significantly higher than that of the geriatrics (p < 0.05), but not significant compared to the subadults (p > 0.05). The predominant bands in DGGE patterns shared by the twelve pandas were related to Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. Additionally, in comparison to healthy individuals, antibiotic-treated animals showed partial microbial dysbiosis. Real-time PCR analyses confirmed a significantly higher abundance of the Lactobacillus in the fecal microbiota of adults (p < 0.05), while other bacterial groups and species detected did not significantly differ among the three age groups (p > 0.05). This study revealed that captive giant pandas with different ages showed different intestinal bacteria composition.
authors.affiliation: Animal Microecology Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.
authors.forename: Zhirong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, 611130, China.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Chengdu Wildlife Institute, Chengdu Zoo, Chengdu, 610081, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Chengdu Wildlife Institute, Chengdu Zoo, Chengdu, 610081, China.
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: Animal Microecology Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China. xueqinni@foxmail.com.
authors.forename: Xueqin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.affiliation: Animal Microecology Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.
authors.forename: Fuqin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, 611130, China.
authors.forename: Mingyue
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, 611130, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Animal Microecology Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, 611130, China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, 611130, China.
authors.forename: Zhongqiong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Animal Microecology Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.
authors.forename: Kangcheng
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Animal Microecology Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jing
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D001503:Ursidae / Q000382:microbiology*
keywords: Captive giant panda; Diet; Intestine microflora; PCR-DGGE; Real-time PCR