Date Presented

Spring 5-18-2024

Document Type

Thesis

First Advisor

Dr. Jamie L. Brooks

Second Advisor

Dr. Kari Benson

Third Advisor

Dr. Price Blair

Abstract

The oral microbiome informs us about the living conditions of the animal. Understanding the oral microbiome allows handlers to understand the health implications to better protect themselves and care for the animals. Current literature on the oral microbiome in ruminants and alpacas is scant and does not represent llamas. In theory, the oral microbiome of a llama should be similar because they are often housed and cared for in a very similar manner. The gut and oral microbiome in humans have proven to have an overlap in bacterial communities. In theory, this is also true in animals that chew cud like llamas and cows because it introduces the gut microbiome to the oral cavity. Henderson and colleagues have found the gut microbiome of ruminants and pseudo ruminants have several members that appear across species including these bacteria groups Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, Bacteroidales, and Clostridiales which appeared in 90% of the animals surveyed. This project is the first to have analyzed metagenomic 16s rRNA sequencing from saliva and fecal samples from a llama to identify the oral and gut microbiomes. This project also isolated, identified, and characterized a novel bacterial species isolated from a separate saliva sample to characterize it using biochemical testing. This research is significant because handlers will have a better understanding of the animals allowing for better care and safety of the handlers.

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