Studying the intestinal microbiome of Siberian roe deer

The fauna of Yakutia is rich and diverse, but the epizootic situation of the republic with regard to infectious diseases of wild animals remains poorly studied. There are practically no reports in the literature on the study of the microbiota of wild ungulates of the Arctic and Subarctic. The study of the microbiome of wild animals is not only relevant but also informative research, as the microbiota is a sensitive indicator that responds to many factors of the external and internal environment of the body. The aim is to study the microbiome of wild animals in the Arctic and Subarctic zones of Russia. The article presents the results of the study of the intestinal microbiota of Siberian roe deer. The biological material (thin and thick sections of the intestine (lumen and wall microbiota)) was studied. The generally accepted dilution method was used for quantitative counting of microorganisms. Analysis of the results showed that in the studied Siberian roe deer (43 heads), aerobic bacilli of the genus Bacillus dominate in the normal microbiota (wall and lumen) up to 88–100% (respectively), the main representatives of the intestinal normoflora are significantly inferior to them are: bifidobacteria (61.3–68.1%), lactobacilli (36.3–63.6%), enterococci (59–66%), and lactosepositive escherichia (54.5–59%). Quantitatively, the intestinal microbiocenosis of roe deer showed a comparatively high number of bacilli – up to 104 CFU/g, the number of lactobacilli, enterococci and lactose-positive escherichia was much less, and bifidobacteria were registered in a significantly low amount – up to 101 CFU/g. Examination of material taken from the carcasses of dead roe deer revealed the absence of representatives of normal microflora, except for lactose-positive escherichia, which were found in the wall contents. Microbiological examination of the post-mortem material (parenchymal organs and intestines) revealed potential enteropathogens – lactose-negative escherichia, which, were further identified as Salmonella abortus equi, with high virulence to laboratory animals. The conducted studies showed pronounced intestinal dysbiosis in fallen roe deer, which is characterised by the absence of the main representatives of normal microflora along with the predominance of a large number of potential enteropathogens up to 104 CFU/g. The presence of a highly virulent causative agent of salmonellosis in the intestinal microbiota of roe deer indicates their etiological role in the cause of animal deaths. Thus, summarizing the results of the conducted studies, it can be concluded that aerobic bacilli of the genus Bacillus dominate in the intestinal microbiota of the Siberian roe deer and they have the main protective function against pathogenic microorganisms.

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