Abstract

The microbiome consists of numerous microorganisms that may be symbiotic or pathogenic in nature. An individual’s microbiota can be affected by genetics, but also changes in environment, diet, disease and medication usage.¹ Alterations to the gastrointestinal microbiota, termed “dysbiosis”, in an individual may lead to clinical signs. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been used in human and veterinary medicine to treat various gastrointestinal diseases including dysbiosis.^2,3 The goals of this study are to characterize the pilot whale fecal microbiome and assess the effects of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in oceanaria-based pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) via serial metagenomic analysis of the fecal microbiome.

Fecal microbiome samples were collected from a group of four pilot whales housed together at SeaWorld San Diego. Three of these animals have displayed intermittent clinical signs of recurrent gastrointestinal disease. The whales presented for voluntary fecal sample collection in dorsal recumbency at the water surface. Serial baseline fecal microbiota analysis was conducted for all four whales. Preliminary results of baseline analyses show the bacteria identified in large quantities (>50% of bacterial composition per sample) amongst the four individuals include bacteria from the phyla Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. The majority of these microbes were present in high concentrations both prior to and following antimicrobial therapy, including Mollicutes sp. (Firmicutes), Escherichia coli and Photobacterium damselae (Proteobacteria). Two microbes identified in large concentrations during periods of health include Actinobacillus delphinicola (Proteobacteria) and Lactobacillales sp. (Firmicutes); while only Clostridium disporicum (Firmicutes) was identified in high concentrations while the animal was receiving antimicrobial therapy. Based on these findings, the use of antimicrobials may not markedly affect the diversity nor the concentration of certain of bacterial microbes. In conjunction with serial baseline fecal microbiome analyses, this study will evaluate the effects and present the findings following fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) amongst the pilot whales. The hypothesis is that metagenomic analyses of the fecal microbiome of the donation sample and the recipient animals will show evidence of successful fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and less incidence of clinical dysbiosis.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank SeaWorld San Diego and MiDOG LLC for their contributions to this study.

*Presenting author
⁺Student presenter

Literature Cited

1.  Shreiner AB, Kao JY, Young VB. 2015. The gut microbiome in health and in disease. Current Opinion in Gastroenterology 31(1):69–75.

2.  Niederwerder MC. 2018. Fecal microbiota transplantation as a tool to treat and reduce susceptibility to disease in animals. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 206:65–72.

3.  Chaitman J, Jergens AE, Gaschen F, Garcia-Mazcorro JF, Marks SL, Marroquin-Cardona AG, Richter K, Rossi G, Suchodolski JS, Weese JS. 2016. Commentary on key aspects of fecal microbiota transplantation in small animal practice. Vet Med (Auckl) 31;7:71–74.