Dissemination of Intestinal Microbiota by Migratory Birds across Geographical Borders

Abstract

Understanding the dissemination of medically important microbiota is a significant public health necessity. Although modern bacteriology has advanced with improved culturing technology, several environmental bacteria occur in the “viable but nonculturable” state. By using next-generation sequencing (NGS) to comprehensively analyze the intestinal microbiota of migratory birds, research on microbial communities traveling over long distances has entered a new era and provides new insights that are valuable for the analysis of medical care, livestock industry, agriculture, and human health risks. The use of comprehensive analysis by NGS of not only intestinal microbiota but also diet biological communities may help elucidate the relationship between microbiological communities and the diet and succession of intestinal microbiota, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria, during migration and breeding. Here, we have described the current state and the future implications of studying intestinal microbiota associated with migratory birds.