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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Genetics and Animal Breeding » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #326441
Title: Evaluating the metagenome of nasal samples from cattle with bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC)

Author
item McDaneld, Tara
item Kuehn, Larry
item Keele, John

Submitted to: International Society for Animal Genetics (ISAG)
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/22/2016
Publication Date: 7/23/2016
Citation: McDaneld, T.G., Kuehn, L.A., Keele, J.W. 2016. Evaluating the metagenome of nasal samples from cattle with bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) [abstract]. International Society for Animal Genetics (35th ISAG). Abstract Book. p. 148-149 (Abstract #P6002). Available: https://www.isag.us.Docs/Proceedings/ISAG_Proceedings_2016.pdf

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) is a multi-factor disease, and disease incidence may be associated with an animal’s commensal microbiota (metagenome). Therefore, evaluation of the animal’s resident microbiota in the upper nasal cavity may help us to understand the impact of the metagenome on incidence of BRDC in cattle. Nasal swabs from approximately 700 calves were collected each year at various time points including preconditioning, weaning, and when the animal enters the feedlot and is diagnosed with BRDC. Samples from healthy cohorts were also collected for each time point evaluated in the feedlot to compare metagenome profiles of healthy and sick animals. Samples from animals diagnosed with BRDC in the feedlot were pooled in groups of ten based on when the animal was diagnosed with BRDC (1 wk, 2 wk, 3 wk, or 4 wk after weaning). Samples from these same animals were also evaluated at the time points previous to entering the feedlot (preconditioning and weaning) to evaluate changes in the metagenome across time. Additionally, samples from the preconditioning and weaning time points were pooled in groups of ten based on location origin of the animals prior to entering the feedlot, as calves came from four pasture locations before being weaned and comingled in the feedlot. To evaluate and compare the metagenome of each pooled sample, the variable region along the 16S ribosomal RNA gene was amplified by PCR. These amplified products were then sequenced using next-generation sequencing (Pacific Biosciences RSII instrument or Illumina MiSeq) and sequence reads were analyzed by WebMGA and GreenGenes to identify the bacterial populations present. Overall, metagenomic populations differed across time points evaluated including feedlot, preconditioning and weaning. Additionally, metagenome profiles differed across animal location origin prior to entering the feedlot. These results demonstrate a change in the metagenome of the nasal cavity across different time points of production.