2.12. Fecal Sample DNA Extraction
The extraction of DNA from fecal samples was performed using the QIAamp Fast DNA Stool Mini kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines. Each extraction involved 200 ± 20 mg of feces as the starting material. Following purification, the isolated DNA was preserved at −80 °C until it was ready for subsequent analysis.