At this year’s Microbial Dark Matter Symposium, MiDOG is proud to present three groundbreaking studies that expand our understanding of hidden microbial ecosystems in exotic, zoo-housed, and companion animals. Using advanced metagenomic sequencing, we explored cross-kingdom microbial dynamics — bacteria, fungi, protozoa, parasites, and phages — that conventional diagnostics often miss.
📍 Poster #1: Expanding Beyond Culture to Uncover the Bile Microbiome in Companion Animals
Authors: Kaylie Zapanta, Danielle Rondeau, Janina A. Krumbeck
In collaboration with Maine Veterinary Internal Medicine, this study used NGS to profile the biliary microbiome in dogs and cats, revealing:
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A complex community including many low-abundance novel species missed by culture
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249 bacterial species detected by NGS vs. only five by culture
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Multiple Pseudomonas spp., Staphylococcus spp., and Bacteroides pyogenes identified
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49 fungal species detected, including Candida parapsilosis and Aspergillus
🧪 This work demonstrates the value of NGS for bile diagnostics and highlights the limitations of culture-based methods.
📍 Poster #2: From Parasites to Phages – Metagenomic Exploration of the Fecal Microbiome in Eastern Indigo Snakes
Authors: Mark N. Yacoub, Christopher Brown, James E. Bogan, Janina A. Krumbeck
In partnership with Tulane University and the Central Florida Zoo’s Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation, this study delivered the first draft genome of Cryptosporidium serpentis and profiled the fecal microbiome of wild and captive Eastern Indigo Snakes, revealing:
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Significant bacterial, fungal, protozoan, and phage shifts associated with C. serpentis infection
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Greater eukaryotic diversity in wild snakes, but higher phage richness in captive individuals
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Detection of zoonotic Cryptosporidium species (C. hominis, C. sp. chipmunk LX-2015) exclusively in wild snakes
🔍 Findings shed light on host–parasite–microbiome interactions and provide new genomic tools for conservation and disease mitigation.
🔬 MiDOG’s Mission: Precision Microbiology for Every Species
These studies exemplify our commitment to unlocking the “microbial dark matter” in exotic and non-model species. By leveraging Next-Generation Sequencing, we deliver unbiased, all-in-one diagnostic solutions that go beyond bacteria, capturing the full complexity of infections and microbiome shifts.