Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Enrichment activities may influence the microbiomes of captive tigers\', affecting their health, digestion, and behavior. Currently, there are few studies that address the impact of enrichment activity on tigers\' health. This study aimed to determine the diversity of the gut microbiome in captive Malayan tigers at Zoo Melaka and Night Safari during the environmental enrichment phase using a metabarcoding approach.
RESULTS: This study utilized different enrichment activities which catered for food, sensory, and cognitive enrichment. Eleven fresh fecal samples from captive Malayan tigers at Zoo Melaka and Night Safari were collected under different conditions. All samples were extracted and 16S rRNA V3-V4 region amplicon sequencing was used to characterize the gut microbiome of captive Malayan tigers subjected to various enrichment activities. Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota, and Fusobacteriota were the dominant phyla observed in the gut microbiome of captive Malayan tigers during enrichment activities. This study revealed β-diversity significantly varied between normal and enrichment phase, however no significant differences were observed in α-diversity. This study demonstrates that environmental enrichment improves the gut microbiome of Malayan tigers because gut microbes such as Lachnoclostridium, which has anti-inflammatory effects and helps maintain homeostasis, and Romboutsia, which has a probiotic effect on the gut microbiome.
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides valuable insights into the effects of enrichment activities on the gut microbiome of captive Malayan tigers, offering guidance for enhancing captive management practices aimed at promoting the health and well-being of Malayan tiger in captivity.
RESULTS: This study utilized different enrichment activities which catered for food, sensory, and cognitive enrichment. Eleven fresh fecal samples from captive Malayan tigers at Zoo Melaka and Night Safari were collected under different conditions. All samples were extracted and 16S rRNA V3-V4 region amplicon sequencing was used to characterize the gut microbiome of captive Malayan tigers subjected to various enrichment activities. Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota, and Fusobacteriota were the dominant phyla observed in the gut microbiome of captive Malayan tigers during enrichment activities. This study revealed β-diversity significantly varied between normal and enrichment phase, however no significant differences were observed in α-diversity. This study demonstrates that environmental enrichment improves the gut microbiome of Malayan tigers because gut microbes such as Lachnoclostridium, which has anti-inflammatory effects and helps maintain homeostasis, and Romboutsia, which has a probiotic effect on the gut microbiome.
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides valuable insights into the effects of enrichment activities on the gut microbiome of captive Malayan tigers, offering guidance for enhancing captive management practices aimed at promoting the health and well-being of Malayan tiger in captivity.
摘要：
背景：富集活动可能会影响圈养老虎的微生物群，影响他们的健康，消化，和行为。目前,很少有研究探讨浓缩活动对老虎健康的影响。这项研究旨在确定在环境富集阶段，马六甲动物园和夜间野生动物园圈养的马来亚老虎肠道微生物组的多样性。
结果：这项研究利用了不同的富集活性来迎合食物，感官,和认知丰富。在不同条件下，从马六甲动物园和夜间野生动物园的圈养马来亚老虎中收集了11个新鲜粪便样本。提取所有样品，并使用16SrRNAV3-V4区域扩增子测序来表征遭受各种富集活动的圈养马来亚虎的肠道微生物组。Firmicutes,放线菌,在富集活动期间，圈养的马来亚老虎的肠道微生物组中观察到的优势菌门和镰状杆菌。这项研究表明，正常阶段和富集阶段之间的β多样性显着变化，然而，在α多样性方面没有观察到显著差异。这项研究表明，环境富集改善了马来亚老虎的肠道微生物组，具有抗炎作用并有助于维持体内平衡，和Romboutsia,对肠道微生物组有益生菌作用。
结论：这项研究为富集活动对圈养马来亚虎肠道微生物组的影响提供了有价值的见解，为加强圈养管理实践提供指导，旨在促进圈养马来亚虎的健康和福祉。
结果：这项研究利用了不同的富集活性来迎合食物，感官,和认知丰富。在不同条件下，从马六甲动物园和夜间野生动物园的圈养马来亚老虎中收集了11个新鲜粪便样本。提取所有样品，并使用16SrRNAV3-V4区域扩增子测序来表征遭受各种富集活动的圈养马来亚虎的肠道微生物组。Firmicutes,放线菌,在富集活动期间，圈养的马来亚老虎的肠道微生物组中观察到的优势菌门和镰状杆菌。这项研究表明，正常阶段和富集阶段之间的β多样性显着变化，然而，在α多样性方面没有观察到显著差异。这项研究表明，环境富集改善了马来亚老虎的肠道微生物组，具有抗炎作用并有助于维持体内平衡，和Romboutsia,对肠道微生物组有益生菌作用。
结论：这项研究为富集活动对圈养马来亚虎肠道微生物组的影响提供了有价值的见解，为加强圈养管理实践提供指导，旨在促进圈养马来亚虎的健康和福祉。
