Dog-Owner microbiota in Thailand

Title: Pack behavior or personal bonds? Exploring dog-owner microbiota and bacterial pathogens in Southeast AsiaAbstract: Domestic dogs may influence human microbiota and act as reservoirs or sentinels for zoonoticbacteria, yet little is known about these dynamics in Southeast Asia. Using full-length 16S rRNAgene sequencing, we analyzed microbiota from dog-owner pairs in rural Thailand to assessmicrobial diversity, shared taxa, and zoonotic potential. Dogs exhibited higher microbial andpathogen diversity than humans, particularly during the rainy season. While dog-owner pairs sharedmore bacteria than unrelated individuals, overall overlap remained limited —likely driven by theirfree-roaming lifestyles and broader environmental exposures. However, co-occurrence of zoonoticpathogens such as Shigella spp. and Klebsiella pneumoniae suggests dogs could serve as usefulindicators for specific public health risks. Our findings highlight the value of integrating dogs intozoonotic surveillance programs, particularly in regions with free-ranging dog populations and closehuman-animal contact.