Characterisation and comparison of the mucosa-associated bacterial communities across the gastrointestinal tract of stranded green turtles, <em>Chelonia mydas</em>

Mohammad Shamim Ahasan; Thomas B. Waltzek; Leigh Owens; Ellen Ariel

doi:10.3934/microbiol.2020022

AIMS Microbiology, 2020, 6(4): 361-378. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2020022. Research article

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Characterisation and comparison of the mucosa-associated bacterial communities across the gastrointestinal tract of stranded green turtles, Chelonia mydas

Mohammad Shamim Ahasan, Thomas B. Waltzek, Leigh Owens, Ellen Ariel

1 College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, 4811, Qld, Australia
2 Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur 5200, Rangpur, Bangladesh
3 College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA

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Chelonia mydas are primarily herbivorous long-distance migratory sea turtles that contribute to marine ecosystems. Extensive research has been conducted to restore the populations of green turtles. Little is known about their gut microbiota which plays a vital role in their health. We investigated the mucosa-associated bacterial communities across the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a total four (3, juvenile and 1, adult) stranded green turtles. Samples taken from four GI regions including oesophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine were analysed by high-throughput sequencing targeting hypervariable V1-V3 regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. Bacterial diversity and richness decreased longitudinally along the GI tract from oesophagus to the small intestine of stranded turtles. The large intestine showed a higher bacterial diversity and richness compared to small intestine. The bacterial community of green turtles’ GI tract was largely dominated by Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Fusobacteria. Aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria prevailed primarily in the oesophagus while anaerobes (Lachnospiraceae, Peptostreptococcaceae and Ruminococcaceae) constituted the bulk of large intestinal microbiota. Firmicutes dominated the GI tract except within the small intestine where Proteobacteria prevailed. At the OTU level, six percent of the total OTUs (>1% relative abundance) were common in all GI regions. This is a comprehensive characterisation of bacterial microbiota across the GI tract in green turtles which will provide a reference for future studies on turtle gut microbiome and their metabolism to improve their health and nutrition during rehabilitation.

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Keywords: Green sea turtle; Chelonia mydas; intestinal microbiology; bacterial diversity; gut microbiota; intestinal microbiome

Citation: Mohammad Shamim Ahasan, Thomas B. Waltzek, Leigh Owens, Ellen Ariel. Characterisation and comparison of the mucosa-associated bacterial communities across the gastrointestinal tract of stranded green turtles, Chelonia mydas. AIMS Microbiology, 2020, 6(4): 361-378. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2020022

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