Shifts in Gut Microbe Population in Periparturient Goats

Kingsley Ekwemalor¹, Emmanuel Asiamah¹, Eboghoye Eluka-Okoludoh¹, Bharath Mulakala², Sarah Adjei-Fremah² & Mulumebet Worku^2*

¹Department of Applied Sciences and Technology, North Carolina A&T State University, USA
²Department of Animal Sciences, North Carolina A&T State University, USA

Dr. Mulumebet Worku, Department of Animal Sciences, North Carolina A&T State University, USA.

Keywords: Gut Microbe; Microbial DNA; PCR

Abstract

Many factors influence the gut microbiome. The gastrointestinal tract of goats is inhabited by diverse and complex microbial communities including bacteria, protozoa, fungi, archaea, and viruses. This study investigated the shifts in the bacterial community during the periparturient period. Fecal samples were collected from Five BoerXSpanish goats at 14 days and 7 days before and after parturition. Fecal DNA was isolated using the QIAamp (R) DNA isolation stool mini kit. The Nanodrop spectrophotometer was used to determine the concentration and purity of microbial DNA. Fecal samples were amplified using RT-PCR to determine the presence of total microbial DNA and relative abundance of Bifidobacteria spp and Lactobacillus spp. The housekeeping genes GAPDH and ?-actin were used to normalize the data. Relative abundance was calculated using the Livak method were samples taken from 2 weeks before kidding served as the control group. Bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus, and 16S primers detected microbial DNA in fecal samples. There was an increase in Bifidobacteria, and Lactobacillus 7 days before kidding. Gut microbial diversity changes in periparturient goats.

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