Metagenomic characterization of the bacterial microbiota in domestic cat (Felis catus) saliva

Purpose: Felis catus is a domestic animal that interacts with people frequently, both directly and indirectly. These interactions ultimately result in changes to each organism's microbiome. Studying the microbiota of organisms which are in contact with humans enables new data on potential health risks and provides new understanding for microbial changes and compositions. This study aimed to enabled a detailed profile of the cat oral microbiota, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of animal microbiomes and their potential impact on human health, particularly in the context of zoonoses and bacterial infections. Method: In this study, metagenomic analysis was used to understand Felis catus saliva’s bacterial composition at various taxonomic levels. The saliva sample was sequenced and the V3-V4 region of bacterial 16S rRNA gene was targeted for this analysis. Findings: At the phylum level, Bacterioidota (38%), Pseudomonadota (21%), Fusobacteriota (19%), Bacillota (11%), Spirochaetota (5%), and Mycoplasmatota (3%) and at the genus level Porphyromonas (30%), Fusobacterium (14%), Treponema (5%), Peptostreptococcus (5%), Campylobacter (5%) and Oceanivirga (4%) were dominant. Conclusion: This study provides a foundation for future research on microbial transmission between animals and humans. In the further studies, modern sequencing techniques can be used to better understand the links between bacterial communities in domestic animals and their potential impact on human health.