Comparison of microbial communities in the maternal hens, eggs and the chicken embryos

The microbiota in avian reproductive tract has been rarely studied. In addition, the correlation between microbiota of maternal oviduct and descendant embryo has not been elucidated. In this study, we analyzed microbial communities in the chicken oviduct, cloaca, egg and the chicken embryo and the origin of the chicken embryo gut microbiota.