Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38396133›Full record

ArticleCommunications biology2024

Markers of fertility in reproductive microbiomes of male and female endangered black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes).

Sally L Bornbusch, Alexandra Bamford, Piper Thacher, Adrienne Crosier, Paul Marinari, Robyn Bortner, Della Garelle, Travis Livieri, Rachel Santymire, Pierre Comizzoli and 5 more

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Article in Communications biology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. The island biology of the host microbiome.Trends in microbiology · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Sally L Bornbusch *Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, USA. sally.bornbusch@gmail.com.ORCID 0000-0001-9996-8369
Alexandra BamfordDepartment of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.
Piper ThacherCenter for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, USA.
Adrienne CrosierCenter for Animal Care Services, Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, USA.
Paul MarinariCenter for Animal Care Services, Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, USA.
Robyn BortnerNational Black-Footed Ferret Conservation Center, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Carr, CO, USA.
Della GarelleNational Black-Footed Ferret Conservation Center, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Carr, CO, USA.
Travis LivieriPrairie Wildlife Research, Stevens Point, WI, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-9092-7499
Rachel SantymireBiology Department, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Pierre ComizzoliCenter for Species Survival, Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, USA.
Michael MaslankaDepartment of Nutrition Science, Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, USA.
Jesús E MaldonadoCenter for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, USA.
Klaus-Peter KoepfliSmithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, George Mason University, Front Royal, VA, USA.
Carly R Muletz-WolzCenter for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-5047-9601
Alexandra L DeCandia *Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Reproductive microbiomes contribute to reproductive health and success in humans. Yet data on reproductive microbiomes, and links to fertility, are absent for most animal species. Characterizing these links is pertinent to endangered species, such as black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes), whose populations show reproductive dysfunction and rely on ex-situ conservation husbandry. To understand microbial contributions to animal reproductive success, we used 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to characterize male (prepuce) and female (vaginal) microbiomes of 59 black-footed ferrets at two ex-situ facilities and in the wild. We analyzed variation in microbiome structure according to markers of fertility such as numbers of viable and non-viable offspring (females) and sperm concentration (males). Ferret vaginal microbiomes showed lower inter-individual variation compared to prepuce microbiomes. In both sexes, wild ferrets harbored potential soil bacteria, perhaps reflecting their fossorial behavior and exposure to natural soil microbiomes. Vaginal microbiomes of ex-situ females that produced non-viable litters had greater phylogenetic diversity and distinct composition compared to other females. In males, sperm concentration correlated with varying abundances of bacterial taxa (e.g., Lactobacillus), mirroring results in humans and highlighting intriguing dynamics. Characterizing reproductive microbiomes across host species is foundational for understanding microbial biomarkers of reproductive success and for augmenting conservation husbandry.

Indexed as

FerretsSemenAnimalsFemaleFertilityHumansMalePhylogenyRNA, Ribosomal, 16SSoilRNA, Ribosomal, 16SSoil

Identifiers

PMID38396133
PMCPMC10891159

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.