Canaries’ Microbiota: The Gut Bacterial Communities along One Female Reproductive Cycle

Abstract

Investigations of bacterial communities are on the rise both in human and veterinary medicine. Their role in health maintenance and pathogenic mechanisms is in the limelight of infectious, metabolic, and cancer research. Among the most considered, gut bacterial communities take the cake. Their part in animals was assessed mainly to improve animal production, public health, and pet management. In this regard, canaries deserve attention, being a popular pet and source of economic income for bird-keepers, for whom breeding represents a pivotal point. Thus, the present work aimed to follow gut bacterial communities’ evolution along on whole reproductive cycle of 12 healthy female canaries. Feces were collected during parental care, molting, and resting phase, and submitted for 16S rRNA sequencing. Data were analyzed and a substantial presence of Lactobacillus aviarius along all the phases, and a relevant shift of microbiota during molting and rest due to an abrupt decrease of the Vermiphilaceae family were detected. Although the meaning of such change is not clear, future research may highlight unforeseen scenarios. Moreover, Lactobacillus aviarius may be deemed for normal bacteria flora restoration in debilitated birds, perhaps improving their health and productivity.