Unravelling vaginal microbial genetic diversity and abundance between Holstein and Fleckvieh cattle

Abstract

Characterization of bovine vaginal microbial genetic diversity can lead to better understanding of cattle physiology, which is of economic interest in improving cattle reproduction health. However, there is limited knowledge on the factors affecting the microbial community harbored in the vaginal tract. The aim of the current study is to evaluate and compare the microbial genetic diversity and abundance between the Holstein and Fleckvieh cattle using metagenomic approach. The main bacterial phyla found were firmicutes (51.70–58.80%), proteobacteria (16.70–11.70%) and bacteroidetes (13.20–19.50%) for Holstein and Fleckvieh. Notable significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed for Fusobacteria, which was more abundant in Holstein (9.73–0.81%). At the achaea phyla, Euryarchaeota was significantly different (p < 0.05) and was more abundant in Fleckvieh than in Holstein cattle (0.86–0.22%). At the genus level, Turicibacter, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-010, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Dorea, Methanobrevibacter, Acetitomaculum, Ruminococcaceae_NK4A214_group and Ruminiclostridium_5 were found to be significantly (p < 0.05) different between the two cattle breeds and all of them were more abundant in Fleckvieh than in Holstein cattle. The current results indicate that the breed can influence bovine vaginal microbial abundance and diversity. Our study characterized and provided pivotal scientific knowledge to understand the microbial community that harbors the bovine virginal flora.