The 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing of Gut Microbiota in Pigeons Infected with Pigeon Paramyxovirus type 1

Pigeon paramyxovirus type 1 (PPMV-1) infection can induce gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea in pigeons, leading to severe histopathological damage in the intestinal tract. However, the impact of PPMV-1 infection on the gut microbiota of pigeons remains unexplored. In this study, ten 4-week-old healthy pigeon squabs were divided into a PBS group and a QH group, and were respectively inoculated with PBS and PPMV-1/QH-01/CH/23 strain via the intraocular and intranasal routes. Cecal contents were subsequently collected for 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The results revealed that PPMV-1 infection did not significantly alter the richness and diversity of the gut microbiota but restructured its composition. The gut microbiota of pigeons were dominated by the phyla Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteriota in both groups; however, the abundance of Bacteroidota was significantly reduced in the QH group. Furthermore, the QH group showed a significant increase in the abundance of Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, particularly the pathogenic species Clostridium paraputrificum and Clostridium perfringens. In contrast, the abundances of commensals such as Enterococcus (especially the beneficial Enterococcus columbae) and Mycoplasma (specifically Mesomycoplasma moatsii) were significantly decreased. These findings indicate that PPMV-1 infection restructures the pigeon gut microbiota, offering valuable insights into the intestinal pathogenesis of PPMV-1.