Comparison of Fecal Microbiota Communities between Primiparous and Multiparous Cows during Non-Pregnancy and Pregnancy

Abstract

Imbalances in the gut microbiota composition may lead to several reproductive disorders and diseases during pregnancy. This study investigates the fecal microbiome composition between primiparous and multiparous cows during non-pregnancy and pregnancy to analyze the host-microbial balance at different stages. The fecal samples obtained from six cows before their first pregnancy (BG), six cows during their first pregnancy (FT), six open cows with more than three lactations (DCNP), and six pregnant cows with more than three lactations (DCP) were subjected to 16S rRNA sequencing, and a differential analysis of the fecal microbiota composition was performed. The three most abundant phyla in fecal microbiota were Firmicutes (48.68%), Bacteroidetes (34.45%), and Euryarchaeota (15.42%). There are 11 genera with more than 1.0% abundance at the genus level. Both alpha diversity and beta diversity showed significant differences among the four groups (p < 0.05). Further, primiparous women were associated with a profound alteration of the fecal microbiota. The most representative taxa included Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, Prevotellaceae_UCG_003, Christensenellaceae_R_7_group, Ruminococcaceae UCG-005, Ruminococcaceae UCG-013, Ruminococcaceae UCG-014, Methanobrevibacter, and [Eubacterium] coprostanoligenes group, which were associated with energy metabolism and inflammation. The findings indicate that host-microbial interactions promote adaptation to pregnancy and will benefit the development of probiotics or fecal transplantation for treating dysbiosis and preventing disease development during pregnancy.

Differences in milk microbiota between healthy cows and cows with recurringKlebsiellamastitis

“…Age-dependent changes in microbial compositions affecting the alpha diversity are also seen in the gut of humans [21], and are generally attributed to the diversity of the microbiota of the mother of the newborn fetus. In the analysis of fecal microbiota of primiparous and multiparous cows, it was also found that the fecal microbiota α diversity of primiparous cows was higher than that of multiparous cows [22]. P-H had a larger relative abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes and lower abundance of Proteobacteria than MP-H, consistent with previous earlier investigations [23].…”

Changes in Gut Microbiota Associated with Parity in Large White Sows

“…Compared with parturient sows, the differences in the gut microbiome of first-parity sows may be related to energy metabolism. A study showed a higher relative abundance of Methanobrevibacter and a lower relative abundance of Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and dgA-11_gut_group in the gut microbiota of multiparous cows compared to primiparous cows [ 26 ]. These alterations in the most representative taxa might be associated with the host’s energy metabolism [ 26 ].…”

“…A study showed a higher relative abundance of Methanobrevibacter and a lower relative abundance of Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and dgA-11_gut_group in the gut microbiota of multiparous cows compared to primiparous cows [ 26 ]. These alterations in the most representative taxa might be associated with the host’s energy metabolism [ 26 ]. The changes observed in the gut microbiota of primiparous sows might be associated with the challenge they encounter in distributing nutrients to support maternal growth, in addition to fulfilling the needs of fetal growth and lactation [ 27 , 28 ].…”