Bacterial profiling of Haemonchus contortus gut microbiome infecting Dohne Merino sheep in South Africa

A metagenomic approach was used to study the gut microbiome of Haemonchus contortus field strains and that of its predilection site, the abomasum of Dohne Merino sheep. The abomasum contents and H. contortus were collected from 10 naturally infected Dohne Merino sheep. The H. contortus specimens were classified and sexually differentiated using morphometric characters and was further confirmed through molecular identification. We investigated differences and similarities between the bacterial composition of the adult male and female H. contortus gut microbiomes, which were both dominated by bacteria from the Escherichia, Shigella, Vibrio and Halomonas genera. Major abundance variations were identified between the shared adult male and female H. contortus microbiomes. The results also revealed that Succiniclasticum, Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group and Candidatus Saccharimonas were the predominant genera in the Dohne Merino abomasum. This study provides insight into the highly diverse bacterial composition of the H. contortus gut microbiome and the Dohne Merino abomasum which needs to be studied further to explore the complex interactions of different gastrointestinal nematode microbiomes with the host.

Automated summary

This study used metagenomic approach to investigate the gut microbiome of Haemonchus contortus field strains and its predilection site in Dohne Merino sheep. The research identified differences and similarities in bacterial composition between male and female H. contortus gut microbiomes, as well as the predominant genera in the abomasum of Dohne Merino sheep. The study provides insight into the complex interactions of different gastrointestinal nematode microbiomes with the host.