Gut microbiota and metabolic status during pregnancy in captive Asian elephants

We found significant differences in the gut microbiota among the G1, G2, and G3 groups. The phylum <i>Bacteroidetes</i> showed notable differences between G1 and G2. The analysis of fecal metabolomics revealed significant differences in 49 metabolites between G1 and G2, of which 25 were upregulated and 24 were downregulated. These results suggested significant differences in the composition of gut microbiota and fecal metabolites during reproductive stages, while gut microbial diversity remained stable. These findings inform our ongoing research on the potential health conditions of captive Asian elephants, with the aim of better understanding the role of the gut microbiota in reproductive regulation.