The Pangolin, a soil-burrowing animal, is covered with scales. These scales are often abraded by soil and rock and their surface is corrugated. The abrasive wear of the surface of the scales was examined. The scales w...The Pangolin, a soil-burrowing animal, is covered with scales. These scales are often abraded by soil and rock and their surface is corrugated. The abrasive wear of the surface of the scales was examined. The scales were taken from a pangolin that had died of natural causes. The tests were run on a rotary disc abrasive wear tester. The abrasive material was quartz sand （96.5 wt.%） and bentonite （3.5 wt.%）. The morphology of the abraded surfaces and the abrasion were examined by stereoscopic microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The concepts are proposed of ＂Guiding-Effect＂ and ＂Rolling-Effect＂ on the textured surfaces under free abrasive wear conditions and the critical dimensions of the ＂Rolling-Effect＂ are discussed.展开更多
Understanding the zoonotic origin and evolution history of SARS-CoV-2 will provide critical insights for alerting and preventing future outbreaks.A significant gap remains for the possible role of pangolins as a reser...Understanding the zoonotic origin and evolution history of SARS-CoV-2 will provide critical insights for alerting and preventing future outbreaks.A significant gap remains for the possible role of pangolins as a reservoir of SARS-CoV-2 related coronaviruses(SC2r-CoVs).Here,we screened SC2r-CoVs in 172 samples from 163 pangolin individuals of four species,and detected positive signals in muscles of four Manis javanica and,for the first time,one M.pentadactyla.Phylogeographic analysis of pangolin mitochondrial DNA traced their origins from Southeast Asia.Using in-solution hybridization capture sequencing,we assembled a partial pangolin SC2r-CoV(pangolin-CoV)genome sequence of 22895 bp(MP20)from the M.pentadactyla sample.Phylogenetic analyses revealed MP20 was very closely related to pangolin-CoVs that were identified in M.javanica seized by Guangxi Customs.A genetic contribution of bat coronavirus to pangolin-CoVs via recombination was indicated.Our analysis revealed that the genetic diversity of pangolin-CoVs is substantially higher than previously anticipated.Given the potential infectivity of pangolin-CoVs,the high genetic diversity of pangolin-CoVs alerts the ecological risk of zoonotic evolution and transmission of pathogenic SC2r-CoVs.展开更多
Previous studies have identified multiple viruses in dead or severely diseased pangolins,but descriptions of the virome in healthy pangolins are lacking.This poses a greater risk of cross-species transmission due to p...Previous studies have identified multiple viruses in dead or severely diseased pangolins,but descriptions of the virome in healthy pangolins are lacking.This poses a greater risk of cross-species transmission due to poor preventive awareness and frequent interactions with breeders.In this study,we investigated the viral composition of 34 pangolins with no signs of disease at the time of sampling and characterized a large number of arthropodassociated viruses belonging to 11 families and vertebrate viruses belonging to eight families,including those with pathogenic potential in humans and animals.Several important vertebrate viruses were identified in the pangolins,including parvovirus,pestivirus,and picobirnavirus.The picobirnavirus was clustered with human and grey teal picobirnaviruses.Viruses with cross-species transmission ability were also identified,including circovirus,rotavirus,and astrovirus.Our study revealed that pangolins are frequently exposed to arthropod-associated viruses in the wild and can carry many vertebrate viruses under natural conditions.This study provides important insights into the virome of pangolins,underscoring the importance of monitoring potential pathogens in healthy pangolins to prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases in domesticated animals and humans.展开更多
Pangolins are currently considered the most endangered mammal species due to their high rank in local and international traffic. This species is protected in DRC and worldwide, unfortunately it is threatened by numero...Pangolins are currently considered the most endangered mammal species due to their high rank in local and international traffic. This species is protected in DRC and worldwide, unfortunately it is threatened by numerous human actions. The objective of this study is to identify the different reasons for which these animals are exploited, to provide information to determine from the opinions of the respondents the current state of the population from 2015 to today and to identify their hunting techniques by the local populations. We carried out surveys in the households of hunters, farmers and people practicing other professions in 12 villages, located within the RNT and surroundings areas. Two interview techniques were used: the individual interview and the participatory diagnostic technique. 175 people were interviewed individually. Nearly 97% of our respondents are motivated to consume pangolin as bush meat obtaining by hunting. The main reason for eating pangolin meat is 44% preference and 33% habit. The zone does not know the foreign solicitation of the exploitation of pangolins and its derivatives. The opinions of the population regarding the current state of pangolin in the Tayna Nature Reserve indicate that from 2015 to the present day the common pangolin “<em>Manis tricuspis</em>” has been abundant. Hunters use different hunting techniques, dominated by pickup for the <em>Manis tricuspis</em>, digging burrow, fire at the entrance of the burrow for <em>Manis gigantea</em> and the shotgun for the <em>Manis tetradactyla</em>.展开更多
Ecosystem engineers are organisms that alter the distribution of resources in the environment by creating,modifying,maintaining and/or destroying the habitat.They can affect the structure and function of the whole eco...Ecosystem engineers are organisms that alter the distribution of resources in the environment by creating,modifying,maintaining and/or destroying the habitat.They can affect the structure and function of the whole ecosystem furthermore.Burrowing engineers are an important group in ecosystem engineers as they play a critical role in soil translocation and habitat creation in various types of environment.However,few researchers have systematically summarized and analyzed the studies of burrowing engineers.We reviewing the existing ecological studies of burrowing engineer about their interaction with habitat through five directions:(1)soil turnover;(2)changing soil physicochemical properties;(3)changing plant community structure;(4)providing limited resources for commensal animals;and/or(5)affecting animal communities.The Chinese pangolin(Manis pentadactyla)is a typical example of burrowing mammals,in part(5),we focus on the interspecific relationships among burrow commensal species of Chinese pangolin.The engineering effects vary with environmental gradient,literature indicates that burrowing engineer play a stronger role in habitat transformation in the tropical and subtropical areas.The most common experiment method is comparative measurements(include different spatial and temporal scale),manipulative experiment is relatively few.We found that most of the engineering effects had positive feedback to the local ecosystem,increased plant abundance and resilience,increased biodiversity and consequently improved ecosystem functioning.With the global background of dramatic climate change and biodiversity loss in recent decades,we recommend future studies should improving knowledge of long-term engineering effects on population scale and landscape scale,exploring ecological cascades through trophic and engineering pathways,to better understand the attribute of the burrowing behavior of engineers to restore ecosystems and habitat creation.The review is presented as an aid to systematically expound the engineering effect of burrowing animals in the ecosystem,and provided new ideas and advice for planning and implementing conservation management.展开更多
Pangolin exploitation has recently increased in diverse forms such as bushmeat consumption;species or parts trade, medical use. This species is protected in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and worldwide, unfortunat...Pangolin exploitation has recently increased in diverse forms such as bushmeat consumption;species or parts trade, medical use. This species is protected in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and worldwide, unfortunately it is threatened by numerous human actions. The purpose of this study was to determine the profiles of actors using pangolins, the reasons for pangolin exploitation and its products and their use within the local community in and surrounding the reserve. We carried out surveys in the households of hunters, farmers and people practicing other professions in 12 villages, located within the Tayna Nature Reserve (RNT) and surroundings areas. Two interview techniques were used: the individual interview and the participatory diagnostic technique. During one month of data collection, 175 respondents were interviewed. Respondents had diverse profiles according to sex, age, education level and ethnicity. Men were more represented as actors in pangolin exploitation (71.70%) than women (28.30%);the most represented age interval was 20 - 30 years. The education level is distinct amongst respondents: illiterate (37%), primary school (32.4%) and graduate from university (2.9%). An average number of respondents are motivated to consume pangolin as meat obtained by hunting at 50%. The main reason for its consumption is preference (44%) and habit (33%). The scales are pangolin derivatives most recognized by local people and widely used in the pharmacopoeia. Consequently, pangolin protection needs some rigorous measures to reinforce the current law implementation.展开更多
Chinese pangolin(Manis pentadactyla) has important value in Chinese medicine,economy and ecology.At present,Chinese pangolin is about to go extinct due to over hunting and habitat destruction,which has caused a dramat...Chinese pangolin(Manis pentadactyla) has important value in Chinese medicine,economy and ecology.At present,Chinese pangolin is about to go extinct due to over hunting and habitat destruction,which has caused a dramatic decline in the wild population.Breeding Chinese pangolin in captivity is very difficult and has not succeeded yet.This paper is to review the wild population,habitat,foraging,activity rhythm,breeding and physiology of Chinese pangolin.It provides theoretical basis of ecology and biology for the protection and artificial domestication of Chinese pangolin.Meanwhile,given the demands of protection,future research directions are suggested.展开更多
Pangolins(Pholidota,Manidae)are classified as an evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered mammal due to their unique morphology(nail-like scales and a myrmecophagous diet)and being the victim of heavy poaching ...Pangolins(Pholidota,Manidae)are classified as an evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered mammal due to their unique morphology(nail-like scales and a myrmecophagous diet)and being the victim of heavy poaching and worldwide trafficking.As such,pangolins serve as a textbook example for studying the special phenotypic evolutionary adaptations and conservation genetics of an endangered species.Recent years have demonstrated significant advancements in the fields of molecular genetics and genomics,which have translated to a series of important research achievements and breakthroughs concerning the evolution and conservation genetics of pangolins.This review comprehensively presents the hitherto advances in phylogeny,adaptive evolution,conservation genetics,and conservation genomics that are related to pangolins,which will provide an ample understanding of their diversity,molecular adaptation mechanisms,and evolutionary potentials.In addition,we highlight the priority of investigating species/population diversity among pangolins and suggest several avenues of research that are highly relevant for future pangolin conservation.展开更多
Coronavirus(CoV)spillover originating from game animals,particularly pangolins,is currently a significant concern.Meanwhile,vigilance is urgently needed for coronaviruses carried by bats,which are known as natural res...Coronavirus(CoV)spillover originating from game animals,particularly pangolins,is currently a significant concern.Meanwhile,vigilance is urgently needed for coronaviruses carried by bats,which are known as natural reservoirs of many coronaviruses.In this study,we collected 729 anal swabs of 20 different bat species from nine locations in Yunnan and Guangdong provinces,southern China,in 2016 and 2017,and described the molecular characteristics and genetic diversity of alphacoronaviruses(αCoVs)and betacoronaviruses(βCoVs)found in these bats.Using RT-PCR,we identified 58(8.0%)bat CoVs in nine bat species from six locations.Furthermore,using the Illumina platform,we obtained two representative full-length genomes of the bat CoVs,namely TyRo-CoV-162275 and TyRo-CoV-162269.Sequence analysis showed that TyRo-CoV-162275 shared the highest identity with Malayan pangolin(Manis javanica)HKU4-related coronaviruses(MjHKU4r-CoVs)from Guangxi Province,whereas TyRo-CoV-162269 was closely related to HKU33-CoV discovered in a greater bamboo bat(Tylonycteris robustula)from Guizhou Province.Notably,TyRo-CoV-162275 has a putative furin protease cleavage site in its S protein and is likely to utilize human dipeptidyl peptidase-4(hDPP4)as a cell-entry receptor,similar to MERSCoV.To the best of our knowledge,this is the first report of a bat HKU4r-CoV strain containing a furin protease cleavage site.These findings expand our understanding of coronavirus geographic and host distributions.展开更多
Pangolins are among the most critically endangered animals due to widespread poaching and worldwide trafficking. Captive breeding is considered to be one way to protect them and increase the sizes of their populations...Pangolins are among the most critically endangered animals due to widespread poaching and worldwide trafficking. Captive breeding is considered to be one way to protect them and increase the sizes of their populations. However, comparative studies of captive and wild pangolins in the context of gut microbiota are rare. Here, the gut microbiome of captive and confiscated-rescued wild pangolins is compared, and the effects of different periods of captivity and captivity with and without antibiotic treatment are considered.We show that different diets and periods of captivity, as well as the application of antibiotic therapy, can alter gut community composition and abundance in pangolins. Compared to wild pangolins, captive pangolins have an increased capacity for chitin and cellulose/hemicellulose degradation, fatty acid metabolism, and short-chain fatty acid synthesis, but a reduced ability to metabolize exogenous substances. In addition to increasing the ability of the gut microbiota to metabolize nutrients in captivity, captive breeding imposes some risks for survival by resulting in a greater abundance of antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors in captive pangolins than in wild pangolins. Our study is important for the development of guidelines for pangolin conservation, including health assessment, disease prevention, and rehabilitation of wild pangolin populations.展开更多
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China （Grant No.50675087, 50275037） National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of China （Grant No. 50025516） ＂Project 985＂ of Jilin University.
文摘The Pangolin, a soil-burrowing animal, is covered with scales. These scales are often abraded by soil and rock and their surface is corrugated. The abrasive wear of the surface of the scales was examined. The scales were taken from a pangolin that had died of natural causes. The tests were run on a rotary disc abrasive wear tester. The abrasive material was quartz sand （96.5 wt.%） and bentonite （3.5 wt.%）. The morphology of the abraded surfaces and the abrasion were examined by stereoscopic microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The concepts are proposed of ＂Guiding-Effect＂ and ＂Rolling-Effect＂ on the textured surfaces under free abrasive wear conditions and the critical dimensions of the ＂Rolling-Effect＂ are discussed.
基金This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Projects of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China,National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFC0863300)Ministry of Agriculture of China(2016ZX08009003-006)+1 种基金Key Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(KJZD-SW-L11)Animal Branch of the Germplasm Bank of Wild Species,Chinese Academy of Sciences(the Large Research Infrastructure Funding)。
文摘Understanding the zoonotic origin and evolution history of SARS-CoV-2 will provide critical insights for alerting and preventing future outbreaks.A significant gap remains for the possible role of pangolins as a reservoir of SARS-CoV-2 related coronaviruses(SC2r-CoVs).Here,we screened SC2r-CoVs in 172 samples from 163 pangolin individuals of four species,and detected positive signals in muscles of four Manis javanica and,for the first time,one M.pentadactyla.Phylogeographic analysis of pangolin mitochondrial DNA traced their origins from Southeast Asia.Using in-solution hybridization capture sequencing,we assembled a partial pangolin SC2r-CoV(pangolin-CoV)genome sequence of 22895 bp(MP20)from the M.pentadactyla sample.Phylogenetic analyses revealed MP20 was very closely related to pangolin-CoVs that were identified in M.javanica seized by Guangxi Customs.A genetic contribution of bat coronavirus to pangolin-CoVs via recombination was indicated.Our analysis revealed that the genetic diversity of pangolin-CoVs is substantially higher than previously anticipated.Given the potential infectivity of pangolin-CoVs,the high genetic diversity of pangolin-CoVs alerts the ecological risk of zoonotic evolution and transmission of pathogenic SC2r-CoVs.
基金supported by the State Key Research Development Program of China(2019YFC1200500,2019YFC1200502)National Key Research and Development Program of China(2018YFA0903000,2020YFC2005405,2020YFA0712100,2020YFC0840805,2021YFC0863400)Key Project of Beijing University of Chemical Technology(XK1803-06)。
文摘Previous studies have identified multiple viruses in dead or severely diseased pangolins,but descriptions of the virome in healthy pangolins are lacking.This poses a greater risk of cross-species transmission due to poor preventive awareness and frequent interactions with breeders.In this study,we investigated the viral composition of 34 pangolins with no signs of disease at the time of sampling and characterized a large number of arthropodassociated viruses belonging to 11 families and vertebrate viruses belonging to eight families,including those with pathogenic potential in humans and animals.Several important vertebrate viruses were identified in the pangolins,including parvovirus,pestivirus,and picobirnavirus.The picobirnavirus was clustered with human and grey teal picobirnaviruses.Viruses with cross-species transmission ability were also identified,including circovirus,rotavirus,and astrovirus.Our study revealed that pangolins are frequently exposed to arthropod-associated viruses in the wild and can carry many vertebrate viruses under natural conditions.This study provides important insights into the virome of pangolins,underscoring the importance of monitoring potential pathogens in healthy pangolins to prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases in domesticated animals and humans.
文摘Pangolins are currently considered the most endangered mammal species due to their high rank in local and international traffic. This species is protected in DRC and worldwide, unfortunately it is threatened by numerous human actions. The objective of this study is to identify the different reasons for which these animals are exploited, to provide information to determine from the opinions of the respondents the current state of the population from 2015 to today and to identify their hunting techniques by the local populations. We carried out surveys in the households of hunters, farmers and people practicing other professions in 12 villages, located within the RNT and surroundings areas. Two interview techniques were used: the individual interview and the participatory diagnostic technique. 175 people were interviewed individually. Nearly 97% of our respondents are motivated to consume pangolin as bush meat obtaining by hunting. The main reason for eating pangolin meat is 44% preference and 33% habit. The zone does not know the foreign solicitation of the exploitation of pangolins and its derivatives. The opinions of the population regarding the current state of pangolin in the Tayna Nature Reserve indicate that from 2015 to the present day the common pangolin “<em>Manis tricuspis</em>” has been abundant. Hunters use different hunting techniques, dominated by pickup for the <em>Manis tricuspis</em>, digging burrow, fire at the entrance of the burrow for <em>Manis gigantea</em> and the shotgun for the <em>Manis tetradactyla</em>.
基金This article is supported by Rare and endangered Species Investigation supervision and industry standard project of State Forestry and Grassland Administration(2020070215)This article is supported by Rare and endangered Species Investigation supervision and industry standard project of State Forestry and Grassland Administration(2020070215).
文摘Ecosystem engineers are organisms that alter the distribution of resources in the environment by creating,modifying,maintaining and/or destroying the habitat.They can affect the structure and function of the whole ecosystem furthermore.Burrowing engineers are an important group in ecosystem engineers as they play a critical role in soil translocation and habitat creation in various types of environment.However,few researchers have systematically summarized and analyzed the studies of burrowing engineers.We reviewing the existing ecological studies of burrowing engineer about their interaction with habitat through five directions:(1)soil turnover;(2)changing soil physicochemical properties;(3)changing plant community structure;(4)providing limited resources for commensal animals;and/or(5)affecting animal communities.The Chinese pangolin(Manis pentadactyla)is a typical example of burrowing mammals,in part(5),we focus on the interspecific relationships among burrow commensal species of Chinese pangolin.The engineering effects vary with environmental gradient,literature indicates that burrowing engineer play a stronger role in habitat transformation in the tropical and subtropical areas.The most common experiment method is comparative measurements(include different spatial and temporal scale),manipulative experiment is relatively few.We found that most of the engineering effects had positive feedback to the local ecosystem,increased plant abundance and resilience,increased biodiversity and consequently improved ecosystem functioning.With the global background of dramatic climate change and biodiversity loss in recent decades,we recommend future studies should improving knowledge of long-term engineering effects on population scale and landscape scale,exploring ecological cascades through trophic and engineering pathways,to better understand the attribute of the burrowing behavior of engineers to restore ecosystems and habitat creation.The review is presented as an aid to systematically expound the engineering effect of burrowing animals in the ecosystem,and provided new ideas and advice for planning and implementing conservation management.
基金This study was financially supported by the US.FISH A WILDLIFE.
文摘Pangolin exploitation has recently increased in diverse forms such as bushmeat consumption;species or parts trade, medical use. This species is protected in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and worldwide, unfortunately it is threatened by numerous human actions. The purpose of this study was to determine the profiles of actors using pangolins, the reasons for pangolin exploitation and its products and their use within the local community in and surrounding the reserve. We carried out surveys in the households of hunters, farmers and people practicing other professions in 12 villages, located within the Tayna Nature Reserve (RNT) and surroundings areas. Two interview techniques were used: the individual interview and the participatory diagnostic technique. During one month of data collection, 175 respondents were interviewed. Respondents had diverse profiles according to sex, age, education level and ethnicity. Men were more represented as actors in pangolin exploitation (71.70%) than women (28.30%);the most represented age interval was 20 - 30 years. The education level is distinct amongst respondents: illiterate (37%), primary school (32.4%) and graduate from university (2.9%). An average number of respondents are motivated to consume pangolin as meat obtained by hunting at 50%. The main reason for its consumption is preference (44%) and habit (33%). The scales are pangolin derivatives most recognized by local people and widely used in the pharmacopoeia. Consequently, pangolin protection needs some rigorous measures to reinforce the current law implementation.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(31470570)Chongqing Natural Science Foundation(cstc2014jcyj A80013)+1 种基金Science Foundation of Chongqing Education Commission(kj1400534)Chongqing Creative Program for Graduate Students(CYS15155)
文摘Chinese pangolin(Manis pentadactyla) has important value in Chinese medicine,economy and ecology.At present,Chinese pangolin is about to go extinct due to over hunting and habitat destruction,which has caused a dramatic decline in the wild population.Breeding Chinese pangolin in captivity is very difficult and has not succeeded yet.This paper is to review the wild population,habitat,foraging,activity rhythm,breeding and physiology of Chinese pangolin.It provides theoretical basis of ecology and biology for the protection and artificial domestication of Chinese pangolin.Meanwhile,given the demands of protection,future research directions are suggested.
文摘Pangolins(Pholidota,Manidae)are classified as an evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered mammal due to their unique morphology(nail-like scales and a myrmecophagous diet)and being the victim of heavy poaching and worldwide trafficking.As such,pangolins serve as a textbook example for studying the special phenotypic evolutionary adaptations and conservation genetics of an endangered species.Recent years have demonstrated significant advancements in the fields of molecular genetics and genomics,which have translated to a series of important research achievements and breakthroughs concerning the evolution and conservation genetics of pangolins.This review comprehensively presents the hitherto advances in phylogeny,adaptive evolution,conservation genetics,and conservation genomics that are related to pangolins,which will provide an ample understanding of their diversity,molecular adaptation mechanisms,and evolutionary potentials.In addition,we highlight the priority of investigating species/population diversity among pangolins and suggest several avenues of research that are highly relevant for future pangolin conservation.
基金the Special Foundation for the National Science and Technology Basic Research Program of China(2021FY100303)the Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Program(2021B1212050021,2021B1212110003)+1 种基金the GDAS Special Project of Science and Technology Development(2021GDASYL-20210103052)the Young Top-notch Talent Cultivation Program of Hubei Province and the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS)(2019328).
文摘Coronavirus(CoV)spillover originating from game animals,particularly pangolins,is currently a significant concern.Meanwhile,vigilance is urgently needed for coronaviruses carried by bats,which are known as natural reservoirs of many coronaviruses.In this study,we collected 729 anal swabs of 20 different bat species from nine locations in Yunnan and Guangdong provinces,southern China,in 2016 and 2017,and described the molecular characteristics and genetic diversity of alphacoronaviruses(αCoVs)and betacoronaviruses(βCoVs)found in these bats.Using RT-PCR,we identified 58(8.0%)bat CoVs in nine bat species from six locations.Furthermore,using the Illumina platform,we obtained two representative full-length genomes of the bat CoVs,namely TyRo-CoV-162275 and TyRo-CoV-162269.Sequence analysis showed that TyRo-CoV-162275 shared the highest identity with Malayan pangolin(Manis javanica)HKU4-related coronaviruses(MjHKU4r-CoVs)from Guangxi Province,whereas TyRo-CoV-162269 was closely related to HKU33-CoV discovered in a greater bamboo bat(Tylonycteris robustula)from Guizhou Province.Notably,TyRo-CoV-162275 has a putative furin protease cleavage site in its S protein and is likely to utilize human dipeptidyl peptidase-4(hDPP4)as a cell-entry receptor,similar to MERSCoV.To the best of our knowledge,this is the first report of a bat HKU4r-CoV strain containing a furin protease cleavage site.These findings expand our understanding of coronavirus geographic and host distributions.
基金supported by the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, China (31925006)the Major Science and Technology Project in Yunnan Province of China, China (202001BB050001)+1 种基金the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research (STEP) program, China (2019QZKK0503)the Animal Branch of the Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Chinese Academy of Sciences。
文摘Pangolins are among the most critically endangered animals due to widespread poaching and worldwide trafficking. Captive breeding is considered to be one way to protect them and increase the sizes of their populations. However, comparative studies of captive and wild pangolins in the context of gut microbiota are rare. Here, the gut microbiome of captive and confiscated-rescued wild pangolins is compared, and the effects of different periods of captivity and captivity with and without antibiotic treatment are considered.We show that different diets and periods of captivity, as well as the application of antibiotic therapy, can alter gut community composition and abundance in pangolins. Compared to wild pangolins, captive pangolins have an increased capacity for chitin and cellulose/hemicellulose degradation, fatty acid metabolism, and short-chain fatty acid synthesis, but a reduced ability to metabolize exogenous substances. In addition to increasing the ability of the gut microbiota to metabolize nutrients in captivity, captive breeding imposes some risks for survival by resulting in a greater abundance of antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors in captive pangolins than in wild pangolins. Our study is important for the development of guidelines for pangolin conservation, including health assessment, disease prevention, and rehabilitation of wild pangolin populations.
