Variation of gut microbiota of woolly monkeys (Lagothrix lagothricha) during a reintroduction process

Changes in gut microbial diversity and composition can affect the health of the host by the loss of some bacterial groups, causing negative effects on the organism. Aspects such as the use of antibiotics, stress and diet change in captivity leading to changes in the microbial communities, with diet being one of the most associated factors. Previous studies have made comparisons between wild and captive individuals, however, the variation of intestinal microbiota in a reintroduction process has not been explored. The objective of this study is to identify changes in the bacterial composition of three reintroduced woolly monkeys (Lagothrix lagothricha) and compare it with databases of wildlife individuals. Fecal samples were collected and the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced to determine gut microbial composition and functionality. We found that alpha diversity is mainly associated with changes in diet after the liberation of the individuals. Weighted unifrac and functionality analysis show that released samples appear to be more alike wild samples rather than captive. Released individuals appear to have an intermediate bacterial composition between captive and wild samples. This study shows that the intestinal microbiota varies depending on the study site and is mainly associated with diet changes. Promoting the intake of food consumed by primates in the wild in captive individuals may have a positive effect on microbiota, improving health and increasing success in rehabilitation and reintroduction efforts.