The Microbiota Architecture of the Chinchilla Gastrointestinal Tract.

Simple Summary: Chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera) are cecal fermenters; the health of their gastrointestinal system contributes significantly to their overall wellbeing, yet minimal data are available regarding the composition of the microbiota present in different segments of their gastrointestinal tract. This study addresses the knowledge gap regarding the gastrointestinal microbiota in healthy chinchillas. Notably, the cecum and colon displayed significantly higher microbiota abundance compared with the proximal gastrointestinal segments, with cellulose-degrading bacteria as the core microbiota. In contrast, the stomach and small intestine exhibited lower microbiota abundance, with characteristic microbiota possessing acid-resistant properties. Moreover, the Atopobiaceae family was discovered in the proximal gastrointestinal tract of the chinchilla, which is the first report of its presence in the gastrointestinal tract of cecal fermenters. The gastrointestinal microbiota develop alongside the host and play a vital role in the health of cecal fermenters such as chinchillas. However, little is known about the microbiota architecture in healthy chinchillas. Illumine-based 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was used to investigate the microbiota present in six different gastrointestinal tract regions of three healthy adult chinchillas. The findings revealed significantly more abundant microbiota in the large intestine compared with the proximal segments. In addition, the cecum exhibited better evenness compared to the colon. The core microbiota are Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, Actinobacteriota, and Proteobacteria at the phylum level. The signature microbiota of each segment were identified. The cecum had 10 signature microbiota, which had the widest coverage and overlapped with that of the cecum. The stomach had five signature microbiota, exhibiting the second widest coverage and overlapping with the duodenum. No signature microbiota were detected in the jejunum and ileum. While similarities exist with the microbiota of other cecal fermenters, chinchillas exhibit distinct microbiota closely related to their unique digestive mechanisms. This study is a preliminary study of the gastrointestinal microbiota architecture and distribution in healthy chinchillas. Further study is needed in order to better understand the effect of gastrointestinal microbiota on the health of the chinchilla. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]