Abstract
IMPORTANCE: Understanding the microbial diversity within the gastrointestinal tract of wild Korean water deer (KWD; Hydropotes inermis argyropus) is essential for gaining insights into their health and ecological interactions. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to isolate and identify aerobic and anaerobic bacterial species in the feces of wild KWD. METHODS: Fecal samples were collected from 55 wild KWD of varying age and sex. Aerobic bacteria were cultured at 37°C for 24-48 h under standard conditions, whereas anaerobic bacteria were cultured at 37°C for 48-72 h in an anaerobic environment. Bacterial identification was conducted using DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction amplification targeting the 16S rRNA gene. RESULTS: The predominant aerobic bacteria identified belonged to the Firmicutes (58.18%) and Proteobacteria (41.82%) phyla, with Escherichia coli (31.82%) and Bacillus cereus (31.82%) being the most common species. Among anaerobic bacteria, most belonged to the Firmicutes (71.03%), Proteobacteria (27.10%), and Fusobacteriota (1.87%) phyla, with Paraclostridium bifermentans (28.97%) and E. coli (22.43%) being the most prevalent species. Other frequently identified anaerobic species were Fusobacterium varium, Lactococcus garvieae, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Clostridium sporogenes. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Our findings indicate a diverse microbial community in the feces of water deer, offering valuable insights into their gut microbiota and its potential implications for health and ecology.