Gut microbiota analysis of marsh crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) of Vishwamitri River
Keywords:
gut flora, microbiome, Firmicutes, Marsh crocodile, DNA isolationAbstract
A study was conducted to establish baseline information regarding the microbiome composition of the Marsh crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) gut flora through DNA isolation and sequencing of scat samples. Metagenomics, focusing on microbial communities within ecosystems, was employed to analyze the diverse microbiota, including bacteria, viruses, archaea, and eukaryotes. These microorganisms are ubiquitous and inhabit various environmental niches, such as soil, air, and water, and also form symbiotic relationships with host organisms, including their skin, lungs, and gastrointestinal tracts. Traditional bacterial biochemical identification approaches were found to be labor-intensive due to the inability to culture certain microbes. The use of One Codex software facilitated the analysis of the Marsh crocodile scat community, revealing a rich diversity comprising 84 phyla, 75 classes, 150 orders, 326 families, 1104 genera, and 3025 species. The gut microbiome is recognized for its significant impact on host health. In this study, Firmicutes predominated, comprising 50.07% of the phylum, followed by Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Notably, Firmicutes, including Bacilli, Gammaproteobacteria, and Clostridia, were associated with high levels of fecal coliforms in the aquatic environment inhabited by Marsh crocodiles.
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