Evaluation of neonatal oral and rectal microbiota in dogs delivered by c-section, from birth to weaning.

Maternal teat-skin microbiota is the primary early colonizer in cesarean-born puppies, with diversity increasing significantly through weaning.

This longitudinal study examined the development of oral and rectal microbiota in 18 puppies born via cesarean section from four French Bulldog dams, tracking microbial colonization from birth through weaning (60 days). Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing of oral and rectal swabs collected at birth and at 15, 30, 45, and 60 days, alongside maternal oral, teat-skin, and rectal samples, the researchers characterized both alpha and beta diversity dynamics over time. Alpha diversity increased significantly in both oral and rectal niches (p < 0.001), demonstrating a progressive ecological succession from pioneer facultative anaerobes toward taxa characteristic of a mature microbiome. Beta diversity analyses revealed that puppy microbial communities converged toward maternal profiles over time, with this trend accelerating following the dietary transition from milk to solid food. Source tracking identified maternal teat-skin microbiota as the predominant early colonizer, while maternal oral and rectal sources became increasingly influential as puppies aged. These findings confirm that microbial colonization begins at birth even in cesarean-delivered neonates and undergoes dynamic, site-specific maturation throughout the neonatal period. The study underscores the critical role of maternal microbial transfer in shaping early canine microbiota and highlights the potential of canine neonatal models for translational One Health research into early-life microbiome development. Clinically, these results have implications for neonatal puppy management, particularly regarding maternal contact, feeding practices, and the potential consequences of c-section delivery on microbiome establishment.

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