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Marine invertebrates associate with diverse microorganisms. Microorganisms even inhabit coelomic fluid (CF), namely, the fluid filling the main body cavity of echinoderms. The CF microbiota potentially impacts host health and disease. Here, we analysed the CF microbiota in two common coastal starfish species, Patiria pectinifera and Asterias amurensis. Although microbial community structures were highly variable among individual starfish, those of P. pectinifera were compositionally similar to those in the surrounding seawater. By contrast, many A. amurensis individuals harboured unique microbes in the CF, which was dominated by the unclassified Thiotrichales or previously unknown Helicobacter-related taxon. In some individuals, the Helicobacter-related taxon was the most abundant genus-level taxon, accounting for up to 97.3% of reads obtained from the CF microbial community. Fluorescence in situ hybridization using a Helicobacter-related-taxon-specific probe suggested that probe-reactive cells in A. amurensis were spiral-shaped, morphologically similar to known Helicobacter species. Electron microscopy revealed that the spiral cells had a prosthecate-like polar appendage that has never been reported in Helicobacter species. Although culture of Helicobacter-related taxon was unsuccessful, this is the first report of the dominance of a Helicobacter-related taxon in invertebrates and non-digestive organs, reshaping our knowledge of the phylogeography of Helicobacter-related taxa.

ABSTRACT. Age of gilts at first mating (AFM) is a factor associated with reproductive performance of female pigs. The objectives of the present study were to compare AFM and reproductive performance across parity between three herd groups based on a productivity measurement and to determine lifetime performance by AFM and the herd groups pigs, and the number of parities at removal decreased from 4.8 to 4.1 (P<0.05). In parity 1, females with an AFM of 209-229 days had fewer PBA, but had a lower culling risk and shorter weaning-to-first mating interval than those with an AFM of 251-271 days (P<0.05).In conclusion, we recommend management practices such as boar exposure to hasten puberty in gilts and decrease AFM. Lifetime performance and longevity are critical for producers managing commercial herds [5]. Increased lifetime performance and longevity in female pigs (females) reduce costs of replacement gilts and improve herd performance [12] and profitability. Age of gilts at first mating (AFM) has been suggested to be a key factor determining lifetime performance and longevity [12,13]. Higher AFM is associated with higher numbers of pigs born alive (PBA) [1], but with a lower farrowing percentage [7] and longer weaning-toestrus interval in low parity [16]. Furthermore, a high age of gilts at first conception has a significant negative effect on longevity and increased hazard of culling [13]. However, the relationships between AFM and by-parity reproductive performance such things as farrowing percentage, weaningto-first mating interval (WMI) and culling risk have not been fully elucidated.Annual measurements of herd performance for females in high-performing herds based on the number of pigs weaned per mated females per year (PWMFY) have been reported to provide productivity and performance benchmarks for the swine industry [5,15]. However, the relationship between AFM and herd groups based on PWMFY has not yet been examined. Additionally, there have not yet been any reports of the relationships between AFM and herd groups in terms of lifetime performance or longevity. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were to compare AFM and reproductive performance by parity between herd productivity groups and to determine culling risk and lifetime performance according to AFM and herd groups.

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