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Background <p>Species-specific or health status specific microbiome composition of cetaceans is still poorly classified due to the limited samples. Despite a partial identification of the gut microbiota of melon-headed whales (<i>Peponocephala electra</i>), comparative analyses across anatomical systems are lacking. This study provides the first comprehensive analysis of the microbial communities habiting nine body sites - oral cavity, esophagus, foregut, midgut, hindgut, blowhole, and skin wounds (left anterior, dorsal fin, tail) - in a stranded melon-headed whale.</p> Results <p>By 16&#xa0;S rRNA gene sequencing, a decrease in microbial richness was observed from the oral cavity to the hindgut, accompanied by compositional shifts from Fusobacterium-dominated oral/esophageal niches to <i>Vibrio</i>-enriched gastrointestinal regions (21.81% <i>Vibrio</i>, 21.19% <i>Fusobacterium</i>, 12.50% <i>Actinobacillus</i>). The respiratory tract microbiota underwent a significant shift and was dominated by <i>Ostreibacterium</i> (57.5%), <i>Helcococcus</i> (6.59%), and <i>Tenacibaculum</i> (4.12%). Skin wounds showed environmental similarities, with <i>Vibrio</i> (47.84%), <i>Pseudoalteromonas</i> (17.84%), and <i>Psychrobacter</i> (12.36%). Pan-microbiome screening identified seven <i>Vibrio</i> species (<i>V. alginolyticus</i>, <i>V. cidicii</i>, <i>V. cyclitrophicus</i>, <i>V. navarrensis</i>, <i>V. parahaemolyticus</i>, <i>V. salilacus</i>, and <i>V. splendidus</i>) across all niches, along with <i>V. cholerae</i> in non-respiratory samples. Notably, <i>V. profundi</i> was exclusively localized to anterior and dorsal fin wounds. Functional profiling revealed enrichment of <i>Vibrio</i>-linked pathogenesis pathways (infection, pathogenic cycle) and metabolic modules that were correlated with immunocompromised states.</p> Conclusions <p>This study revealed significant bidirectional environment-host microbiome exchange dynamics across cetacean mucosal surfaces. Notably, <i>Vibrio</i> spp. emerged as the dominant genus in both gastrointestinal and cutaneous wound microbiomes, highlighting: (1) potential zoonotic transmission risks from pathogenic <i>Vibrio</i> strains, and (2) the critical need for habitat-specific microbial surveillance to inform marine mammal conservation strategies.</p>

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Vibrio spp.: a potential critical pathogen for mammals with implications beyond marine aquaculture

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年10月2日

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  • Chengzhang Li,
  • Yiting Ji,
  • Xinying Li,
  • Jingting Cai,
  • Juntao Ye,
  • Yuqi Wu,
  • Qinghong Liao,
  • Ziyan Wang,
  • Edmond Sanganyado,
  • Ping Li,
  • Yajing Sun,
  • Bo Liang,
  • Wenhua Liu

摘要

Background

Species-specific or health status specific microbiome composition of cetaceans is still poorly classified due to the limited samples. Despite a partial identification of the gut microbiota of melon-headed whales (Peponocephala electra), comparative analyses across anatomical systems are lacking. This study provides the first comprehensive analysis of the microbial communities habiting nine body sites - oral cavity, esophagus, foregut, midgut, hindgut, blowhole, and skin wounds (left anterior, dorsal fin, tail) - in a stranded melon-headed whale.

Results

By 16 S rRNA gene sequencing, a decrease in microbial richness was observed from the oral cavity to the hindgut, accompanied by compositional shifts from Fusobacterium-dominated oral/esophageal niches to Vibrio-enriched gastrointestinal regions (21.81% Vibrio, 21.19% Fusobacterium, 12.50% Actinobacillus). The respiratory tract microbiota underwent a significant shift and was dominated by Ostreibacterium (57.5%), Helcococcus (6.59%), and Tenacibaculum (4.12%). Skin wounds showed environmental similarities, with Vibrio (47.84%), Pseudoalteromonas (17.84%), and Psychrobacter (12.36%). Pan-microbiome screening identified seven Vibrio species (V. alginolyticus, V. cidicii, V. cyclitrophicus, V. navarrensis, V. parahaemolyticus, V. salilacus, and V. splendidus) across all niches, along with V. cholerae in non-respiratory samples. Notably, V. profundi was exclusively localized to anterior and dorsal fin wounds. Functional profiling revealed enrichment of Vibrio-linked pathogenesis pathways (infection, pathogenic cycle) and metabolic modules that were correlated with immunocompromised states.

Conclusions

This study revealed significant bidirectional environment-host microbiome exchange dynamics across cetacean mucosal surfaces. Notably, Vibrio spp. emerged as the dominant genus in both gastrointestinal and cutaneous wound microbiomes, highlighting: (1) potential zoonotic transmission risks from pathogenic Vibrio strains, and (2) the critical need for habitat-specific microbial surveillance to inform marine mammal conservation strategies.