Taxonomic composition of bacteria in pigeon droppings revealed by metagenomic analysis targeting V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the bacterial microbiota in pigeon droppings collected from large food storage facilities in Kannur district of Kerala, India, focusing on the potential public health risks posed by these birds in urban environments using metagenomic analysis targeting V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA.
Methods: The study identifies and catalogs bacteria in both dry (PY1) and fresh pigeon droppings (PY2) using 1 g of pooled samples collected from multiple sites utilizing metagenomic analysis through 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
Results: The results revealed a diverse microbial composition in both fresh and dry pigeon droppings, with notable genera including Kocuria (12% in PY1 and 2% in PY2), Fusobacterium (48% in PY2), and Streptococcus (22% in PY2), among others. The presence of pathogenic bacteria like Acinetobacter (1% in PY1) and Fusobacterium (48% in PY2) underscored the importance of proper hygiene practices in urban settings to mitigate zoonotic disease transmission.
Conclusions: This study underscored the significance of metagenomic analysis targeting the V3-V4 region of 16s rRNA in elucidating microbial diversity. The observed differences between fresh and dry pigeon droppings highlight the influence of environmental factors on bacterial community composition. These findings emphasized the necessity of continous surveillance to enchance hygeine practices and mitigate contamination risks in food storage environments.

Keywords

Pigeon droppings / Zoonotic pathogens / Metagenome / V3-V4 region / 16s rRNA

Conflict of interest statement

The authors claim there is no conflict of interest.

Funding

This study is supported by the University Grants Commission (UGC)- Senior Research Fellowship (SRF).

Data availability statement

The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Authors’ contributions

Anisha K, Tajo A conceptualized the study, designed the experimental framework, collected and analyzed the data and drafted the manuscript. Tajo A supervised the project, designed the experiment framework, and provided critical review and approval. Both authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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