Exploring the influence of the gut microbiome and metabolome on cardiometabolic health of Western Lowland Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)

0564261 - ÚBO 2023 US eng A - Abstract
Davison, S. - Mascellani, A. - Stryková, Anna - Jaimes, J. D. - Travis, D. - Clayton, J. B. - Murphy, H. - Danforth, M. D. - Smith, B. K. - Blekhman, R. - Havlík, J. - Neba, T. F. - Niatou, S. F. S. - Petrželková, Klára Judita - Zapata, A. M. G.
Exploring the influence of the gut microbiome and metabolome on cardiometabolic health of Western Lowland Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla).
American Journal of Primatology. Wiley. Roč. 84, Supplement 1 (2022), s. 32-33. ISSN 0275-2565. E-ISSN 1098-2345.
[Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists /43./. 17.11.2021-20.11.2021, Oklahoma City]
Institutional support: RVO:68081766
OECD category: Zoology
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ajp.23441

Captive Western Lowland Gorillas constitute an important tool toward research and the conservation of the species. Yet, captivity is often associated with cardiometabolic disease (CD), a hurdle for primatological
research and gorilla welfare. To investigate the etiology of CD in captive settings, we studied the fecal microbiome and metabolome of gorillas in11 U.S. zoos (N = 57) and five European zoos (N = 17), including individuals with known CD status, and in four groups of wild gorillas (N = 18) from the Central African Republic across seasons of variable dietary intake (N = 355 total samples). Microbiomes and metabolomes were analyzed via 16S rRNA MiSeq sequencing and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy respectively. Results confirm expected distinctions between the gut microbiome of captive and wild individuals (p<0.001), however, we report, for the first time, significant differences in the abundance of metabolites involved in protein degradation in captive and wild settings. CD status showed minor distinctions, mainly characterized by altered abundance of metabolites involved in protein degradation, bacteria commonly associated with fiber fermentation roles (p<0.05), and fecal concentrations of methanol and ethyl acetate (p<0.05). Specific metabolome and micro-biome profiles were dependent on zoo location and seasonal feeding behaviors in wild gorillas. These results indicate subtle, but novel microbiome and metabolome distinctions in gorillas with compromised cardiovascular health, which may inform optimal management practices in captivity.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0335962