The Gut Microbiota of the Red Panda (Ailurus Fulgens) as Functional Adaptation to the Particular Food Regime

The gut microbiota serves important functions for the organism health and its imbalance can lead to serious dysbiosis. The red panda (Ailurus fulgens) has a carnivore-like digestive system, but nevertheless its diet is based 90% on bamboo; the situation is even more drastic in the giant panda, where instead the diet consists of 99% bamboo. In these two species the microbiota could therefore play a key role in the digestion of cellulose and hemicellulose contained in it, as reported in recently published studies, as well as giving us important information about the health status of the individual. The aim of this study is to make a first characterization of the gut microbiota of eleven red pandas hosted at five Italian and one English facilities, using qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction) to search for the six most representative bacterial groups: Bacteroides- Prevotella- Porphyromonas spp.; Staphylococcus spp.; Clostridium coccoides-Eubacterium rectale group; Lactobacillus spp.; Bifidobacterium spp.; Enterobacteriaceae. The results show a high presence of bacteria belonging to the phylum Firmicutes: Clostridium coccoides-Eubacterium rectale group, (6.6±9.9)E+05 CFU/g of faeces, Staphylococcus spp (3.1±2.6)E+05 CFU/g of faeces, Lactobacillus spp (3.2±9.2)E+05 CFU/g of faeces. A significant quantity of Enterobacteriaceae was also seen, (2.6±8.1)E+06 CFU/g of faeces, with a high variability among the subjects. The Clostridium coccoides-Eubacterium rectale group could be involved in the digestion of cellulose, as in the Giant panda. Bamboo, very rich in fiber and lignin, may require a flora rich in these bacteria group, as reported in Sichuan takin (Budorcas taxicolor tibetana).