Cetobacterium Is a Major Component of the Microbiome of Giant Amazonian Fish (Arapaima gigas) in Ecuador

Simple SummaryArapaima gigas is a large, air-breathing, giant fish found in Amazonian rivers, a characteristic that gives this species an advantage in oxygen-deprived waters. It has a very attractive potential for aquaculture in the Amazon region due to its many advantages, including a fast growth rate that approaches 10-15 kg/year. Here, we describe the gut microbiome of Arapaima to understand the potential contribution of this bacterial community to the growth of this fish. AbstractArapaima gigas is a large air-breathing fish found in Amazonian rivers, a characteristic that gives this species an advantage in oxygen-deprived waters. It shows high potential for aquaculture in the Amazon region due to its fast growth rate that approaches 10-15 kg/year. The aim of this study was to explore the composition of the intestinal bacterial community of Arapaima gigas reared in Ecuador using 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing. The analysis revealed significant differences in alpha diversity indices (p < 0.05) and differential distribution of minor components of the intestinal microbiome between small and large fish. However, components with greater relative abundance, such as Cetobacterium, are found in similar proportions.