Malaysian Mahseer (
Tor tambroides
) is considered as a good
prospect for aquaculture in Malaysia. However, knowledge about Malaysian
Mahseer-associated sperm microbiota is still limited, although some studies
reported that sperm-related bacteria are a factor in the decline of sperm
quality, as sperm may become the carrier of pathogenic bacteria to the egg. The
goal of this study was to evaluate the sperm microbiota associated with
Malaysian Mahseer from 3 different locations (Universiti Malaysia Terengganu
[UMT], Ajil, and Pahang) using polymerase chain reaction denaturing gradient gel
electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) fingerprinting and to compare location differences by
cluster analysis. Our results showed that the UMT sample had different sperm
microbiota composition and a different trend in its relationship with sperm
quality. Correlation analysis showed a relationship between bacterial diversity
and sperm quality. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that sperm microbiota was
composed of diverse phyla, including Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and
Actinobacteria. Interestingly, bacteria such as
Salinisphaera
sp.,
Pelomonas
sp., and
Staphylococcus
spp.
were detected in all the locations, suggesting that these bacteria are
indigenous bacterial members of the Malaysian Mahseer sperm microbiota, although
their function is still unclear.