Wild turkeys thankful for healthier gut flora
Atrandi Biosciences
Microfluidics, Single-Cell Analysis, & High-Throughput Screening
Microbial diversity might be something you want to consider the next time you buy a Thanksgiving turkey – new research has uncovered significant differences in the gut microbiomes of wild and domestic turkeys, revealing a hidden world of microbial diversity that could have important implications for poultry farming and disease control.
The research, conducted by Craft et al., compared the cecal microbiota of wild turkeys with those of domestic turkeys raised on large-scale poultry farms.?16S rRNA sequencing from cecal samples was used to identify and compare the abundance of multiple taxa in the ceca of individual birds present in each group [1].
Wild turkeys were found to harbor a much richer and more variable microbiota compared to their domestic counterparts.?This diversity is thought to be a result of varied diets and environments that wild turkeys are exposed to, as opposed to the controlled conditions of poultry farms.
The V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene cannot distinguish?Escherichia coli?or?Salmonella?from other?Enterobacteriaceae, so specific PCR targeting was used to identify these pathogens. It was found that the levels of Salmonella, and E. coli in wild turkeys were much lower.?This suggests that the diverse microbiota of wild turkeys may provide a natural defense against these harmful bacteria.
The study also found that E. coli strains isolated from wild turkeys were genetically distinct from those found in domestic turkeys in that they were less likely to carry virulence genes, which are associated with disease-causing potential.
These findings highlight the potential benefits of promoting microbial diversity in poultry farming. By understanding and utilizing the gut microbiota of wild turkeys as diagnostic and health markers, farmers could develop new strategies to reduce the prevalence of pathogens in domestic flocks without relying heavily on antibiotics.?This would lead to healthier birds and less cases of pathogen exposure for consumers.
Atrandi Biosciences Semi-Permeable Capsule (#SPC) technology which enables microbial DNA sequencing at single-cell level can help distinguish pathogenicity on a strain level bypassing some of the experimental limitations of this study.
In summary, the gut microbiomes of wild turkeys offer a promising avenue for enhancing poultry health and disease resistance. As we continue to uncover the secrets of these microbial communities, we may find new ways to protect our domestic flocks and ensure a safer, more sustainable food supply.
?? Find out more here: Single–Cell Metagenomics | Atrandi.com
References: