Fecal microbial diversity and putative function in captive western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), common chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), Hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) and binturongs (Arctictis binturong)

Abstract

Microbial populations in the gastrointestinal tract contribute to host health and nutrition. Although gut microbial ecology is well studied in livestock and domestic animals, little is known of the endogenous populations inhabiting primates or carnivora. We characterized microbial populations in fecal cultures from gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), common chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), Hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) and binturongs (Arctictis binturong) to compare the microbiomes associated with different gastrointestinal morphologies and different omnivorous feeding strategies. Each species was fed a distinct standardized diet for 2 weeks prior to fecal collection. All diets were formulated to reflect the species' feeding strategies in situ. Fresh fecal samples were pooled within species and used to inoculate in vitro batch cultures. Acetate, propionate, butyrate and valerate were measured after 24 h of incubation. Eubacterial DNA was extracted from individual fecal samples, pooled, and the cpn60 gene region was amplified and then sequenced to identify the major eubacterial constituents associated with each host species. Short chain fatty acids (P < 0.001) and methane (P < 0.001) were significantly different across species. Eubacterial profiles were consistent with fermentation data and suggest an increase in diversity with dietary fiber.

Multi-proxy analyses of a mid-15th century ‘Middle Iron Age’ Bantu-speaker palaeo-faecal specimen elucidates the configuration of the ‘ancestral’ sub-Saharan African intestinal microbiome

“…( 62 ). This genus also occurs in the IMs of non-human primates, including baboons ( P. ursinus ) and gorillas ( Gorilla gorilla ) ( 63 ). In relation to its substantial presence in the BRS IM, members of this genus might also have played a role in the elimination of aflatoxins present in milk, cheese, grains and figs.…”

Papiospp. Colon microbiome and its link to obesity in pregnancy

“…34 The major products of microbial carbohydrate fermentation are short-chain fatty acids (SCFA: acetate, propionate, butyrate). 72 SCFA concentrations in baboon colon range from 90-150 nmol/L, 67,72 which is lower than SCFA levels in stools from humans (450-900 nmol/L total), 73 chimpanzees, or gorillas. 67 These differences could be explained by dietary composition and other variables.…”

“…72 SCFA concentrations in baboon colon range from 90-150 nmol/L, 67,72 which is lower than SCFA levels in stools from humans (450-900 nmol/L total), 73 chimpanzees, or gorillas. 67 These differences could be explained by dietary composition and other variables. 74 The biggest changes in the colon of Ob compared to nOb animals in our study occurred in the reduction of the carbohydrate-fermenting family, Oligosphaeria (Phylum Lentisphaerae).…”

“…These data agree with reports that the majority of microbiome sequences in the human gut microbiome belong to Firmicutes (65.7%) and Bacteroidetes (16.3%) 66 as well as the universal abundance of gut Firmicutes across mammalian species. 67 However, the total relative abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in the baboon gut was smaller than in the human gut. As previously published by Brinkley and Mott, 68 anaerobic gut bacteria in the baboon were predominantly Lactobacillus (45%), Eubacterium (16.7%), Streptococcus (enterococci) (11.9%), and Bacteroides (10.3%).…”

The microbiome of captive hamadryas baboon

“…To our knowledge, only the rectal and vaginal microbiota of baboons have been examined, likely because baboons can be used as a model in female reproductive studies due to the similarities shared with human reproductive tracts [12][13][14]. Investigations into human lung microbiology are a relatively new field [15], largely because of technical hurdles, ethical considerations and small sample sizes [16], whereas the use of baboon models can provide novel information useful in investigations into the pulmonary microbiome.…”