Describing the intestinal microbiota of Holstein Fasciola-positive and -negative cattle from a hyperendemic area of fascioliasis in central Colombia

Abstract

The ability to identify compositional changes in the intestinal microbiota of parasitized hosts is important for understanding the physiological processes that may affect animal productivity. Within the field of host–parasite interactions, many studies have suggested that helminths can influence the microbial composition of their hosts via their immunomodulatory effects. Bovine fascioliasis is a helminthiasis widely studied by immunologists, but with little information available regarding gut microbial communities. Thus, we aimed to describe the composition of the intestinal microbiota of Holstein Fasciola-positive and -negative cattle using parasitological methods and ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Bovine fecal samples (n = 65) were obtained from livestock slaughter plants in the Cundi-Boyacense Colombian highlands (a hyperendemic region for bovine fascioliasis) and studied by amplicon-based next-generation 16S-rRNA and 18S-rRNA gene sequencing. From these samples, 35 were Fasciola hepatica-negative and, 30 were F. hepatica-positive in our detection analysis. Our results showed a reduction in the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Ascomycota in the Fasciola-positive samples, along with decreased relative abundances of the commensal taxa previously associated with fermentation and digestion processes. However, metabolomic approaches and functional analyzes of the intestinal microbiota are necessary to support this hypothesis. These findings are a small first step in the development of research aimed at understanding how microbial populations in bovines are modulated in liver helminth infections.

Opisthorchis viverrini, Clonorchis sinensis and Opisthorchis felineus liver flukes affect mammalian host microbiome in a species-specific manner

“…Moreover, all three species of liver flukes raised Enterobacteriaceae abundance and lowered Roseburia abundance; this pattern is typical for many human inflammatory diseases [45,[48][49][50]. Our findings are in line with the data indicating significant taxonomic changes in F. hepatica-positive ruminants [51] and in O. viverriniinfected patients [4].…”

Prevalence, coinfection, and risk factors associated with Fasciola hepatica and other gastrointestinal parasites in cattle from the Peruvian Amazon

“…Hepatic fluke infection is a significant public health concern that affects the economy and has been widely investigated. Parasitosis, directly and indirectly, affects cattle, resulting in changes in the intestinal microbiota and high morbidity, which reduce their productivity [ 11 , 12 ]. Coccidiosis and other gastrointestinal parasitic infections are also relevant to animal health and production due to their epidemiological characteristics, resistance to humidity, survival of oocysts in feces, and high parasite loads, making them over 95% prevalent [ 13 , 14 ].…”

Excretory-secretory products from the brown stomach worm, Teladorsagia circumcincta, exert antimicrobial activity in in vitro growth assays

“…Critically, SEC-purified EVs from C. daubneyi , which is phylogenetically closely related to F. hepatica , have recently been demonstrated to exert clear antimicrobial activity [ 21 ]. Fasciolosis, like teladorsagiosis, has been previously shown to be associated with alterations of the ruminant gut microbiota [ 36 ]. Finally, current research conducted in the Morphew laboratory (Aberystwyth, UK; unpublished) has provided evidence that F. hepatica ESPs and EVs exert antimicrobial activity in vitro.…”