Diarrhea in young animals is frequently associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis, severely impacting their health and causing economic losses. However, the key gut microorganisms associated with diarrhea in Hainan black goat kids remain insufficiently understood. To identify potential microbial indicators linked to diarrhea, this study investigated the relationships among gut microbiota, levels of inflammation, and diarrheal status in healthy (n=10) and diarrheic (n=10) goat kids. The results demonstrated that the gut microbial diversity in diarrheic goat kids was significantly lower compared to healthy goat kids. LefSe and t-test analyses identified three bacterial genera that differed significantly between healthy and diarrheic goat kids. Of these, Escherichia_Shigella was enriched in diarrheic goat kids, while Bacteroides and Fournierella were enriched in healthy goat kids. Serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were significantly higher in diarrheic goat kids. Correlation analysis revealed that TNF-α were positively correlated with the abundance of Escherichia_Shigella, and negatively correlated with Bacteroides, and Fournierella. Notably, Bacteroides and Fournierella exhibited a negative correlation with Escherichia_Shigella. ROC analysis further evaluated Escherichia_Shigella, Bacteroides, and Fournierella as potentially key microorganisms for predicting the occurrence of diarrhea in goat kids. In conclusion, diarrheic goat kids exhibit gut microbiota dysbiosis and increased inflammatory responses. Targeting the abundance of Escherichia_Shigella, Bacteroides, and Fournierella may offer a promising microbial strategy for the prevention and treatment of diarrhea in Hainan black goat kids, and the applicability of this finding to other breeds warrants further investigation.

To Cite This Article: Liu Q, Li K, Xu X, Chen X, Zhang G and Li  L 2025. Combined analysis of gut microbiota and inflammation levels reveals the key microorganisms associated with diarrhea in hainan black goat kids. Pak Vet J. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2025.203