Comparative analysis of gut fungal composition and structure of the yaks under different feeding models

Yanbin Zhu; Yangji Cidan; Guangming Sun; Xin Li; Muhammad Akbar Shahid; Zhaxi Luosang; Zhaxi Suolang; Lang Suo; Wangdui Basang

doi:10.3389/fvets.2023.1193558

Comparative analysis of gut fungal composition and structure of the yaks under different feeding models

Front Vet Sci. 2023 Jun 15:10:1193558. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1193558. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Yanbin Zhu^{1

2

3

4}, Yangji Cidan¹, Guangming Sun¹, Xin Li², Muhammad Akbar Shahid⁵, Zhaxi Luosang², Zhaxi Suolang², Lang Suo², Wangdui Basang¹

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Tibet Academy of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Lhasa, China.
² Linzhou Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Station, Lhasa, China.
³ Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lhasa, China.
⁵ Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan.

Abstract

The yaks that inhabit the Tibetan plateau are a rare breed that is closely related to local economic development and human civilization. This ancient breed may have evolved a unique gut microbiota due to the hypoxic high-altitude environment. The gut microbiota is susceptible to external factors, but research regarding the effects of different feeding models on the gut fungal community in yaks remains scarce. In this study, we compared and analyzed the composition and variability of the gut fungal community among wild yaks (WYG), house-feeding domestic yaks (HFG), and grazing domestic yaks (GYG). The results revealed that Basidiomycota and Ascomycota were the most preponderant phyla in the gut fungal community, regardless of feeding models. Although the types of dominant fungal phyla did not change, their abundances did. Intergroup analysis of fungal diversity showed that the Shannon and Simpson indices of WYG and GYG were significantly higher than those of HFG. Fungal taxonomic analysis showed that there were 20 genera (Sclerostagonospora and Didymella) that were significantly different between WYG and GYG, and 16 genera (Thelebolus and Cystobasidium) that were significantly different between the WYG and HFG. Furthermore, the proportions of 14 genera (Claussenomyces and Papiliotrema) significantly decreased, whereas the proportions of eight genera (Stropharia and Lichtheimia) significantly increased in HFG as compared to GYG. Taken together, this study indicated that the gut fungal composition and structure differ significantly between yaks raised in different breeding groups.

Keywords: Qinghai-Tibet plateau; gut fungal community; gut microbiota; wild; yak.

Grants and funding

The study was supported by the Yak Seed Industry Innovation and Healthy Breeding (XZ202101ZD0002N), the Gesangtang Yak Breeding and Efficient Multiplication in Linzhou County (QYXTZX-LS2020-01), and the National Beef Yak Industry Technology System (CARS-37).