Analysis of the Microbial Diversity in the Fecal Material of Giraffes

Curr Microbiol. 2018 Mar;75(3):323-327. doi: 10.1007/s00284-017-1383-y. Epub 2017 Oct 30.

Abstract

Using bacterial and fungal tag-encoded FLX-Titanium amplicon pyrosequencing, the microbiota of the fecal material of seven giraffes living in captivity at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Jacksonville, FL was investigated. In all samples, the most predominant bacterial phylum was the Firmicutes followed by Bacteroidetes. The most predominant fungi were members of the phylum Ascomycota followed by Neocallimastigomycota in five of seven samples. The reverse was true in the other two samples.

Keywords: Fecal material; Giraffe; Microbiota.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacteria / classification
  • Bacteria / genetics
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification*
  • Biodiversity*
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • DNA, Fungal / genetics
  • Feces / microbiology*
  • Fungi / classification
  • Fungi / genetics
  • Fungi / isolation & purification*
  • Giraffes / microbiology
  • Microbiota*
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial
  • DNA, Fungal
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S