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Characterization of fungal communities transmitted from sow to piglet

Summary

This study examined how fungi from mother pigs are passed to their newborn piglets. Researchers collected samples from sow feces, sow vaginas, and piglet feces and analyzed the fungal communities using genetic sequencing. They found that about 47% of the fungi in piglet feces came from the mother’s intestines, while a small amount came from the vagina, with the remainder from unknown environmental sources. The findings help us understand how maternal fungi help establish a healthy gut in newborns.

Background

The gut microbiota of newborn piglets is closely related to that of their sows, but research has primarily focused on bacteria rather than fungi. Understanding fungal community composition during early life is critical for immune development and health, particularly during environmental changes.

Objective

To characterize and compare fungal communities in sow feces, sow vagina, and piglet feces, and to determine the origin and vertical transmission of fungal communities from sows to newborn piglets.

Results

Sow feces exhibited the greatest fungal diversity, followed by piglet feces, with sow vagina showing the least diversity. FEAST analysis revealed that 47.1% of fungal communities in piglet feces originated from sow feces, 4.2% from sow vagina, and 48.7% from unknown sources. Six core fungal genera and species were identified as potentially transmitted from sows to piglets.

Conclusion

The study demonstrates significant differences among fungal communities in maternal feces, maternal vagina, and piglet feces, with clear evidence of vertical transmission from sow gut to piglet gut. The findings highlight the importance of fungal communities in early-life microbiota composition and provide insights into sow-piglet microbial transmission.
  • Published in:Microbiology Spectrum,
  • Study Type:Observational Study,
  • Source: PMID: 40853134, DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02078-24
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