Meta-analysis of bovine respiratory microbiota: link between respiratory microbiota and bovine respiratory health

Bovine respiratory microbiota plays a significant role in bovine respiratory health. We conducted a meta-analysis using publicly available 16S rRNA gene datasets from the respiratory tract to characterize respiratory microbiota in feedlot cattle. Our aims were to determine the factors that influence microbiota development and to assess the differences in microbiota composition and diversity between healthy calves and those that developed bovine respiratory disease (BRD). Our results showed that the overall composition and diversity of respiratory microbiota in cattle were significantly affected by study design, 16S rRNA hypervariable region sequenced, health status, time since arrival to the feedlot, sampling sites in the respiratory tract and antibiotic treatment. Assessment of diversity indices showed a statistically significant difference between the BRD-affected cattle and healthy control calves. Using multivariate network analysis and Spearman's correlation analyses, we further distinguished the taxa that were commonly associated with BRD when the day of arrival to the feedlot was added to the model. The probability of being identified as BRD was significantly correlated with days 7, 12 and 14 following the calf's arrival to the feedlot. These findings could help in proposing strategies to further evaluate the link between respiratory microbiota and bovine respiratory health.