Abstract
dc:description.abstractThis study investigated the microbial colonization and maternal influences on the neonatal calf gut microbiome. Microbiome samples were collected from dams (n = 6) and calves (n = 6) using sterile flocked swabs. The vaginal, oral, and fecal bacterial communities were examined from the dam and the fecal community of calves was examined from birth to 60 d of age. Microbial communities varied by anatomical location and age of the calf. Metagenomic analysis 16s ribosomal DNA revealed ten phyla associated with microbiomes of the dam and the same ten phyla associated with calf feces at various time points: Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Spirochaetes, Tenericutes, Fibrobacteres, and Lentisphaerae. Overall, the calf meconium and fecal microbiome is influenced by a combination of the maternal vagina, oral, and fecal microbiomes. Further studies will be needed to identify the transference mechanisms of maternal microbes to offspring and the associated host-microbial interactions.
Degree
thesis:*- Name thesis:degree_name
- Master of Science in Life Sciences
- Level thesis:degree_level
- masters
- Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
- Dairy Science
- Department dc:contributor.department
- Dairy Science
- Grantor dc:publisher
- Virginia Tech
- Year dc:date.issued
- 2019
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Huffard, Haley Garrett
- Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
-
- Knowlton, Katharine F.
- Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
-
- James, Robert E.
- Cockrum, Rebecca R.
Subjects
dc:subject × 4Rights
dc:rights- Statement dc:rights
-
- In Copyright
- Licence dc:rights.uri
Identifiers
dc:identifier.*- Dc Identifier Other
- vt_gsexam:21757
- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/93957