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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #367613
Research Project: Molecular Approaches to Control Intestinal Parasites that Affect the Microbiome in Swine and Small Ruminants

Location: Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory

Title: Gut microbial signatures with predictive power for moxidectin treatment outcomes in

Author
item LIU, FANG - Ocean University Of China
item XIE, YUE - (NCE, CECR)networks Of Centres Of Exellence Of Canada, Centres Of Excellence For Commercilization A
item ZAJAZ, ANNE - Virginia Tech
item HU, YAN - University Of Massachusetts
item AROIAN, RAFFI - University Of Massachusetts
item Urban, Joseph
item Li, Robert

Submitted to: Journal of Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/5/2020
Publication Date: 3/1/2020
Citation: Liu, F., Xie, Y., Zajaz, A.M., Hu, Y., Aroian, R.V., Urban Jr, J.F., Li, R.W. 2020. Gut microbial signatures with predictive power for moxidectin treatment outcomes in. Journal of Parasitology. 242(2020):108607. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2020.108607.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2020.108607

Interpretive Summary: The barber's pole worm, a voracious blood sucking parasite, represents the primary constraint to profitable sheep and goat production in many regions of the world. The rapid emergence of drug resistant strains in this parasite species is posing a serious threat to the small ruminant industry. In this study, we investigated potential ecological consequences of an ineffective drug clearance on the gut microbial community in goats. Our findings provided novel insights into complex interactions between the parasite and host microbiome in the caprine gut and may improve the design for next-generation anthelmintics.

Technical Abstract: Parasitic infections are associated with a profound change in the structure and function of the gut microbiome in various host-parasite systems. Here we examined the ability of a partial anthelmintic clearance in restoring the altered microbial composition and function in the gut of Haemonchus contortus-infected goats. Our results showed a single-dose moxidectin treatment restored abomasal pH to the baseline level and resulted in an 83.9% and 61.8% reduction in fecal egg counts (EPG) and worm burden, respectively (P < 0.01). The treatment reduced microbial richness in the proximal colon. The anthelmintic increased the abundance of Proteobacteria, particularly that of Campylobacter in the colon. The anthelmintic treatment significantly affected several basic pathways in the midgut and hindgut, including bacterial secretion, butyrate metabolism, and LPS biosynthesis. Several network modules displayed a strong correlation with EPG and worm burden. The Mantel test unraveled a strong correlation between treatment related network topologies of the OTUs belonging to Actinobacteria and Rikenellaceae and EPG and worm burden significance, respectively. The treatment seemingly reduced the cellulolytic capacity in the colon. Furthermore, microbial signatures that can better predict anthelmintic outcomes were identified. A signature or balance represented by the log ratio of the abundance of Verrucomicrobiaceae and Camplyobacteraceae had a strong correlation with EPG (r = 0.80). Our findings provided novel insights into complex interactions between the microbiome and Haemonchus parasite within the caprine gut and potential negative consequence of a partial anthelmintic clearance on animal health and well-being.