Comparison of the gut microflora of common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) according to differences in sex, age, and physiological condition

Abstract

Background Gut microbes play an important role in animal health, and their compositions and changes can reflect the physical condition of animals. However, the gut microbes of most birds, especially raptors, have been poorly investigated. This study used 16S rRNA gene sequencing technology to determine the gut microbiome of rescued common kestrels, compared the composition and diversity of the gut microbiome of common kestrels under different physiological conditions, and analyzed the effects of sex and age on the gut microbes of common kestrels. Results The results showed that Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were the dominant bacteria at the phylum level among the gut flora of kestrels. Difference in the physiological condition of kestrels exerted a significant influence on their gut microbe composition. Specifically, compared with the healthy group, the abundance of Lactobacillus in the fracture group increased, and the interaction between functionally similar flora was strengthened; in the pneumonia group, the abundance of potentially pathogenic microorganisms such as Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 and Paeniclostridium was significantly enhanced (P < 0.05). Moreover, the interaction of differences in physiological condition and sex had a significant impact on the abundance of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria in the guts of kestrels. In addition, the abundance of Acinetobacter was significantly affected by age, and with increasing age, its abundance also increased. Conclusions This study showed that sex, age and physiological condition affected the composition and diversity of the gut microbiome of common kestrels, and specific microorganisms changed in abundance in individuals with bacterial pneumonia or fractures, which provides a new perspective for the disease diagnosis and treatment of wild common kestrels.

Early-life factors shaping the gut microbiota of Common buzzard nestlings

“…Nevertheless, our findings align with a handful of existing studies, which show that Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteriota (Fig. 1A) are among the most abundant bacterial phyla in raptor gut microbiota [73,80,107,121]. Notably, while studies focusing on raptors lack descriptions of the eukaryotic microbiota, our results are in accordance with research conducted in other bird species that also revealed that the two major fungal phyla, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, are predominant in the gut microbiota [68,116,119].…”