title: Intestinal Microbial Community Dynamics of White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in an Agroecosystem.
abstract: The intestinal microbiota has important functions that contribute to host health. The compositional dynamics of microbial communities are affected by many factors, including diet and presence of pathogens. In contrast to humans and domestic mammals, the composition and seasonal dynamics of intestinal microbiota of wildlife species remain comparatively understudied. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is an ecologically and economically important wildlife species that inhabits agricultural ecosystems and is known to be a reservoir of enteric pathogens. Nevertheless, there is a lack of knowledge of white-tailed deer intestinal microbiota diversity and taxonomic composition. This study's first objective was to characterize and compare the intestinal microbiota of 66 fecal samples from white-tailed deer collected during two sampling periods (March and June) using 16S rDNA pyrosequencing. Associations between community diversity and composition and factors including season, sex, host genetic relatedness, and spatial location were quantified. Results revealed that white-tailed deer intestinal microbiota was predominantly comprised of phyla Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, whose relative frequencies varied significantly between sampling periods. The second objective was to examine the associations between the presence of Escherichia coli and Salmonella, and microbiota composition and diversity. Results indicated that relative abundance of some microbial taxa varied when a pathogen was present. This study provides insights into microbial compositional dynamics of a wildlife species inhabiting coupled natural and agricultural landscapes. Data focus attention on the high prevalence of Proteobacteria particularly during the summer and highlight the need for future research regarding the role of white-tailed deer as a natural pathogen reservoir in agroecosystems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Rd, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA. m.lisette.delgado@dal.ca.
authors.forename: M Lisette
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, 194 Food Safety & Toxicology Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
authors.forename: Pallavi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, 736 Wilson Rd, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Funk
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale, MI, 49401, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Rd, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
authors.forename: Emily M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Cannell
authors.affiliation: Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Rd, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
authors.forename: Jeannette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kanesfsky
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, 194 Food Safety & Toxicology Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
authors.forename: Shannon D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Manning
authors.affiliation: Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Rd, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
authors.forename: Kim T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Scribner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003670:Deer / Q000382:microbiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D000068536:Bacillota / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome; D020560:Proteobacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
keywords: 16S rRNA; Agroecosystems; Enteric pathogens; Microbiota; Pyrosequencing; White-tailed deer