Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is the national symbol of Thailand and linked to Thai history and culture for centuries. The elephant welfare improvement is one of the major components to achieve sustainable captive management. Microbiome inhabiting digestive tracts have been shown with symbiotic relations to host health. This work provided high-resolution microbiome profiles of 32 captive elephants at a species level by utilizing full-length 16S rRNA gene nanopore sequencing. Eleven common uncultured bacterial species were found across elephants fed with solid food including uncultured bacterium Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group, Kiritimatiellae WCHB1-41, Phascolarctobacterium, Oscillospiraceae NK4A214 group, Christensenellaceae R-7 group, Oribacterium, Oscillospirales UCG-010, Lachnospiraceae, Bacteroidales F082, uncultured rumen Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group, and Lachnospiraceae AC2044 group. We observed microbiome shifts along the age classes of baby (0-2 years), juvenile (2-10 years), and adult (> 10 years). Interestingly, we found distinct microbiome profiles among adult elephants fed with a local palm, Caryota urens, as a supplement. Potential beneficial microbes have been revealed according to the age classes and feed diets. The retrieved microbiome data could be provided as good baseline microbial profiles for monitoring elephant health, suggesting further studies towards dietary selection suitable for each age class and the use of local supplementary diets. 

Microbiome variations among age classes and diets of captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in Thailand using full-length 16S rRNA nanopore sequencing.

Abstract Asian elephants ( Elephas maximus ) have been known as a national symbol of Thailand and linked to Thai history and culture for centuries. The elephant welfare improvement is one of the major components to achieve sustainable captive management. Microbiome inhabiting digestive tracts have been shown with symbiotic relations to host health. This work provided high-resolution microbiome profiles of 32 captive elephants at a species level by utilizing full-length 16S rRNA gene nanopore sequencing. Eleven common uncultured bacterial species were found across elephants fed with solid food including uncultured bacterium Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group , Kiritimatiellae WCHB1-41 , Phascolarctobacterium , Oscillospiraceae NK4A214 group , Christensenellaceae R-7 group , Oribacterium , Oscillospirales UCG-010 , Lachnospiraceae , Bacteroidales F082 , uncultured rumen Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group , and Lachnospiraceae AC2044 group . We observed microbiome shifts along the age classes of baby (0–2 years), juvenile (2–10 years), and adult (&gt; 10 years). Interestingly, we found distinct microbiome profiles among adult elephants fed with a local palm, Caryota urens , as a supplement. Potential beneficial microbes have been revealed according to the age classes and feed diets. The retrieved microbiome data could be provided as good baseline microbial profiles for monitoring elephant health, and a guideline for dietary selection suitable for each age class. 

/pdf/microbiome-variations-among-age-classes-and-diets-of-captive-71k05e7m.pdf

Microbiome variations among age classes and diets of captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in Thailand using full-length 16S rRNA nanopore sequencing

The present study was conducted to assess the microbial quality of water in forest waterholes in different seasons and its possible impact on wild animals, at Bandipur and Nagarahole Tiger Reserve forests in the state of Karnataka, India, during the year 2012 which evidenced drought, and the year 2014 which witnessed normal rainfall in these forests. The forests recorded the death of 39 wild elephants during April and May of 2012. One ailing elephant was confirmed to have high fever, diarrhoea, leucocytosis, and symptoms of colic. Water samples collected from major waterholes during the peak drought showed higher numbers of coliforms and several species of opportunistic bacteria including species of Vibrio and Campylobacter. In the year 2014–15, with normal rainfall, the death of less than 10 wild elephants was documented during April to May, 2015. We collected water samples from 20 major waterholes every month from June 2014 to May 2015 and assessed the water quality. We found that the microbial water quality improved in rainy season (June–September), started deterioration in winter (October–January) and became poor in summer (February–May). Though, the water during the summer of 2014–15 was equally of poor microbial quality as seen during peaks of droughts, the elephant deaths were relatively lower, signifying the role of normal rainfall in forests which provides the availability of fodder and water, which determines the general body condition and ability to resist opportunistic infections. We discuss the measures suggested and implemented from this study and their utilities at ground level.

https://threatenedtaxa.org/JoTT/article/download/7835/8523

Drought may severely reduce the ability of wild Asian Elephants Elephas maximus (Mammalia: Proboscidea: Elephantidae) to resist opportunistic infections

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Drought may severely reduce the ability of wild Asian Elephants Elephas maximus (Mammalia: Proboscidea: Elephantidae) to resist opportunistic infections