Characterisation of the methanogenic archaeal community in the C1 compartment of the camel (Camelus Dromedarius)

In depth understanding of the relationship between different methanogenic species in camel rumen is essential as they are most certainly the reason for its low methane emission when compared to other ruminants. The archaeal community inside C1 compartment of camel has not yet been characterised. Here, a 16S rRNA gene clone library was prepared from the content of the C1 compartment of 6 Indian camels by cloning pooled polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified products. The sequences (n=151) were clustered into 15 OTUs (operational taxonomic units) based on sequencing of unique RFLP pattern and divided into 5 species groups: Methanobrevibacter (Mbb.) millerae strain SM9, “Candidatus” Methanoplasma termitum, Mbb. smithii, Mbb. ruminantium, Methanocorpusculum (M.) bavaricum strain DSM 4179. The genus Methanobrevibacter (order Methanobacteriales) was the most prevalent (76.82%), followed by archaea from the orders Methanomassiliicoccales (17.21%) and Methanomicrobiales (5.96%). This study initiates the development of a taxonomic frame of the methanogenic population in the camel. It will inform the manipulation of rumen function to mitigate methane emission while optimising food digestibility.