Impact ofInfection on the Colonization Resistance of Bird Gut Microbiota: A Preliminary Study.

Abstract

Avian malaria infection has been known to affect host microbiota, but the impact ofinfection on the colonization resistance in bird gut microbiota remains unexplored. This study investigated the dynamics ofinfection in canaries, aiming to explore the hypothesis that microbiota modulation bywould reduce colonization resistance. Canaries were infected with, while a control group was maintained. The results revealed the presence ofin the blood of all infected canaries. Analysis of the host microbiota showed no significant differences in alpha diversity metrics between infected and control groups. However, significant differences in beta diversity indicated alterations in the microbial taxa composition of infected birds. Differential abundance analysis identified specific taxa with varying prevalence between infected and control groups at different time points. Network analysis demonstrated a decrease in correlations and revealed thatinfection compromised the bird microbiota's ability to resist the removal of taxa but did not affect network robustness with the addition of new nodes. These findings suggest thatinfection reduces gut microbiota stability and has an impact on colonization resistance. Understanding these interactions is crucial for developing strategies to enhance colonization resistance and maintain host health in the face of parasitic infections.