Microanatomy and bacterial flora of the perineal glands of the North American porcupine

Abstract

The perineal glands of the porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum (L., 1758), are sexually dimorphic, paired pockets sprouting osmetrichial hairs. They lie between the anus and urethra, lateral to the midline, amid a sebaceous glandular expanse. In their active state, the glandular pockets secrete an amber substance with a terpenoid odor. When inactive, the glands produce no stain or odor. In males, activation of the glands is associated with fully descended testes. The glandular pockets yield a microbiota (“microflora”) in both their active and inactive states. We hypothesize that the active-state microflora transforms a sebaceous secretion into a pheromonally active product that is disseminated by anal dragging. The glandular microflora was characterized by gas chromatography of bacterial fatty acid methyl esters (GC-FAME) and polymerase chain reaction – denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) of 16S ribosomal RNA gene fragments of bacteria. PCR-DGGE results showed the resulting bacteria profiles were the same in both sexes, but differed between the active and inactive states. Active-state microfloras were dominated by members of the Actinobacteria and showed greater coefficients of similarity than inactive-state microfloras. The microflora of individual animals changed with time and with secretory state. We argue for a reproductive role for the activated perineal glands.

Molecular characterization of the microbial communities in the subcaudal gland secretion of the European badger (Meles meles)

“…However, only very few studies (e.g. Roze et al ., ) had used culture‐independent methods, limiting the diversity of identified species.…”

“…Moreover, studies showed humans to have individually distinctive axillary bacterial communities and thus resulting odor profiles, which may serve as a cue for individual (Natsch et al ., ; Xu et al ., ; Kuhn & Natsch, ) and kin (Weisfeld et al ., ) recognition. Badger subcaudal gland secretion has been shown to be rich in short‐ and medium‐chain fatty acids (Buesching et al ., , c) that are likely to be pheromonally active end products of Actinobacteria‐metabolizing long‐chain fatty acids (Albone & Perry, ; Gorman, ), as has been suggested for the perineal glands of Erethizon dorsatum , whose bacterial community is also dominated by Actinobacteria (Roze et al ., ).…”

“…For example, Lactobacillus , Streptococcus , and Enterococcus produce lactic acid as their major fermentation product and were also identified in the scent organ of other mammals [e.g. the perineal glands of E. dorsatum (Roze et al ., ) and tarsal tufts of white‐tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ; Alexy et al ., )]. Clostridium , which is also found in the anal sac of the red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ; Ware & Gosden, ), generates an unpleasant odor during anaerobic decomposition of proteins owing to the production of fatty acids, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and amines.…”

“…However, only very few studies (e.g. Roze et al, 2010) had used culture-independent methods, limiting the diversity of identified species. The bacterial community in the subcaudal pouch was dominated by Actinobacteria, which co-existed with Analyses were performed on different data sets, that is, either all or only one sample per individual was included.…”

Regional alopecia and dermatitis due to Lodderomyces elongisporus in a North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum)

“…Cryptococcus spp. also was found to be a major component of the glands’ flora 10 . The less glandular regions of North American porcupine skin have not been studied in detail.…”