A Resistome Profiling and Microbiome Analysis in Zoo Animals: Uncovering Hidden Threatsto Public Health

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and their associated resistomes pose significant threats to global public health, yet their dynamics in zoo animals remain poorly understood.This study addresses this gap by analyzing fecal samples from diverse zoo animals in Jiangsu, China.We identified 1,415 ARG subtypes, with tetracycline and multidrug resistance genes being most prevalent.Notably, resistome profiles clustered according to host dietary preferences: tetracycline resistance genes were abundant in herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores, while multidrug efflux genes were enriched in bamboo-feeding animals.Microbiome analysis showed distinct microbial community structures across different dietary groups.The correlation between microbial community structure and dietary preferences suggests that diet significantly influences ARG distribution.Furthermore, insertion sequences (ISs) and plasmid types likely play key roles in ARG transmission within the zoo environment.This study provides new insights into the fecal resistome in zoo animals, demonstrating the significant influence of diet and microbial community structure on ARG profiles.These findings have crucial implications for the prevention and management of multidrug-resistant bacteria in zoos, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to mitigate ARG spread.