Host Reproductive Cycle Influences the Pouch Microbiota of Wild Southern Hairy-Nosed Wombats (Lasiorhinus Latifrons)
Abstract Background: Marsupials are born much earlier than placental mammals, with most crawling from the birth canal to the protective marsupium (pouch) to further their development. However, little is known about the microbiology of the pouch and how it changes throughout a marsupial’s reproductive cycle. Here, using stringent controls, we characterized the microbial composition of multiple body sites from 26 wild Southern Hairy-nosed Wombats (SHNWs), including pouch samples from animals at different reproductive stages. Results: Using qPCR of the 16S rRNA gene we found higher concentrations of microbial DNA in the pouch than in negative controls. We observed significant differences in microbial composition and diversity between the body sites tested, as well as between pouch samples from different reproductive stages. Three of the five most abundant taxa identified in reproductively active pouches had closest matches to microbes previously isolated from tammar wallaby pouches. Conclusions: Our results suggest that SHNW pouches contain communities of microorganisms that are altered by the host reproductive cycle. We recommend further investigation into the roles that pouch microorganisms may play in marsupial reproductive health and joey survival.