Age-related changes in gut microbiota composition for hog deer (Axis porcinus)

Comprehensive investigation of gut microbiota composition is important for understanding the digestive physiology in mammals. Hog deer (Axis porcinus) is a small mammal at high risk of extinction in the wild. In the present study, we sequenced the V4 region of 16S rRNA gene and compared gut microbiota composition among three ages of the captive hog deer, including one infant (Z1, six-month-old), three young (Z2, ten-month-old) and 12 adult (Z3, ~ four years of age) . A total of 26 phyla (15, 22 and 25 in Z1, Z2 and Z3) and 310 genera (153, 254 and 304 in Z1, Z2 and Z3) were identified. In Z1, Z2 and Z3, Firmicutes (63.65%, 62.07% and 61.96%) was the predominant phylum, followed by Bacteroidetes (29.08%, 29.62% and 30.02%) and Tenericutes (3.08%, 3.24% and 2.78%). The alpha diversity (Shannon Index and Observed species) of Z2 were significantly higher than Z3 (P < 0.05). The Shannon Index of Z1 was higher than Z2. At genus level, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group and Ruminiclostridium_5 had higher abundance in Z2 compared with Z3, while other genera suck such as Fibrobacter, Lachnospiraceae_AC2044_group and Oscillibacter were enriched in Z3. In conclusion, our results revealed the significant microbiota composition changes with ages in the captive hog deer.