Vicugna pacos V4 16S rRNA gene survey

Our efforts focused on the microbiota of the alpaca digestive tract under a variety of diets and how these microbes might influence alpaca body condition. Our goals were to 1) define the microbiota of the entire alpaca digestive tract (C1, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, and large intestine), which, to our knowledge, has not yet been done; 2) to identify operational taxonomic units (OTUs) associated with different diets that correlated with increased volatile fatty acid production; and 3) to determine whether the C1 microbiomes of low body condition and good body condition alpacas differ. We hoped to use this information to further study how to correct chronic low body condition in alpacas, which has been noted in individual herd members despite all animals being treated equally.