This study aimed to reveal the microbial diversity in the fecal samples of bactrian camels using the 16 S r RNA sequencing analysis on the Illumina Mi Seq platform. Three fecal samples were collected from two geograph...This study aimed to reveal the microbial diversity in the fecal samples of bactrian camels using the 16 S r RNA sequencing analysis on the Illumina Mi Seq platform. Three fecal samples were collected from two geographical regions in China. Operational taxonomic unit(OTU) clustering was performed by identifying an OTU at 97% sequence identity. The alpha and beta diversities were applied to estimate the differences in microbial diversity among the three fecal samples. Totally, 4409, 3151 and 4075 OTUs in the fecal samples were identified in the Lop Nor wild camel(Camelus ferus), the domestic camel(C. bactrianus) and Dunhuang wild camel(C. ferus), respectively. The majority of bactreria were affiliated with phylum Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in the three samples. The wild camels had higher gastrointestinal tract microbial diversity than the domestic one, while the microbial composition of the Lop Nor wild camel shared higher similarity with domestic camel at the genus and family levels than that of the Dunhuang wild camel did. Our results may provide a theoretical basis for assessing their health conditions and may thus be useful for protecting the critically endangered species of C. ferus.展开更多
The wild camel (Camelus ferus) is a critically endangered large ungulate, surviving in just three distinct populations located in the Taklamakan Desert, China;deserts near Lop Nuur, China;and in China and Mongolia wit...The wild camel (Camelus ferus) is a critically endangered large ungulate, surviving in just three distinct populations located in the Taklamakan Desert, China;deserts near Lop Nuur, China;and in China and Mongolia within and adjacent to Mongolia’s Great Gobi Strictly Protected Area (GGSPA). The population surviving in Mongolia remains poorly researched, but as few as 500 individuals may survive, although its distribution has remained relatively constant over the past 30 - 50 years. This study aimed at identifying potentially important environmental factors that influence the distribution of wild camels in Mongolia and predicting seasonal movement. We predicted distribution by season using presence only data and selected environmental predictors, including land surface temperature, normalized difference vegetation indices (NDVI), water sources, vegetation and soil. Model predictions revealed that land surface temperature in summer correlated significantly with wild camel distribution, with camels occurring in cooler areas. Abundance of biomass did not significantly correlate with camel distribution. Camels occurred in areas with intermediate levels of NDVI in most seasons, implying that they may base foraging decisions on forage quantity, not quality. Positive correlations of camel distribution with higher NDVI in summer (P = 0.03) suggests that they may prefer herbaceous species that appear after rainfall. Models indicate distance to water sources may be critical for camel distribution in all seasons. Camel occurrence correlated with areas containing shallow mountain soils in summer. Camels displayed no significant habitat correlations in other seasons, yet ranges differed among all seasons. Camels used a common region in spring, summer and autumn that we believe represents the core of the species’ annual range. Wild camel distribution during winter varied significantly from other seasons. Our modelling led to a predicted distribution range that was consistent with ranges described by previous research, indicating consistency between survey data and satellite tracking data.展开更多
Background:There has been a growing interest in camel anaplasmosis due to its recent emergence in this reservoir species and concerns for its zoonotic potential.The epidemiology of anaplasmosis in camels therefore rem...Background:There has been a growing interest in camel anaplasmosis due to its recent emergence in this reservoir species and concerns for its zoonotic potential.The epidemiology of anaplasmosis in camels therefore remains poorly understood mostly because camels belong to marginalised poor and often transhumant populations whose interests are largely neglected.Most studies of anaplasmosis in camels have relied on microscopy and serology for diagnosis and only three studies,undertaken in Tunisia,Saudia Arabia and China,have used molecular diagnostics.The present work characterises Anaplasmataceae strains circulating in the Camelus dromedarius reservoir in Morocco using PCR.Methods:Camels(n=106)were randomly sampled from 6 regions representing different agro-ecological areas in southern Morocco.Whole blood was collected and screened using PCR methods targeting the gene groEL.Anaplasmataceae strains were characterised by sequence analysis of the gene groEL.Results:A total of 39.62%(42/106)camels screened were positive for Anaplasmataceae spp.GenBank BLAST analysis of five positive sequenced samples revealed that all strains were 100%identical to“Candidatus Anaplasma camelii”.Phylogenetic investigation and genetic characterisation of the aligned segment(650 bp)of the gene groEL confirmed high similarity with A.platys.Conclusion:This study demonstrates the circulation of a previously unidentified species of the genus Anaplasma in Morocco which is genetically close to the agent causing canine anaplasmosis but whose main reservoir is thought to be Camelus dromedarius.Trial registration number:This study is not a clinical trial and therefore a trial registration number does not apply.展开更多
基金supported by the Xinjiang Lop Nur Wild Camels National Reserve Comprehensive Scientific Research Projects by The Environmental Protection Agency of China (20100228)
文摘This study aimed to reveal the microbial diversity in the fecal samples of bactrian camels using the 16 S r RNA sequencing analysis on the Illumina Mi Seq platform. Three fecal samples were collected from two geographical regions in China. Operational taxonomic unit(OTU) clustering was performed by identifying an OTU at 97% sequence identity. The alpha and beta diversities were applied to estimate the differences in microbial diversity among the three fecal samples. Totally, 4409, 3151 and 4075 OTUs in the fecal samples were identified in the Lop Nor wild camel(Camelus ferus), the domestic camel(C. bactrianus) and Dunhuang wild camel(C. ferus), respectively. The majority of bactreria were affiliated with phylum Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in the three samples. The wild camels had higher gastrointestinal tract microbial diversity than the domestic one, while the microbial composition of the Lop Nor wild camel shared higher similarity with domestic camel at the genus and family levels than that of the Dunhuang wild camel did. Our results may provide a theoretical basis for assessing their health conditions and may thus be useful for protecting the critically endangered species of C. ferus.
文摘The wild camel (Camelus ferus) is a critically endangered large ungulate, surviving in just three distinct populations located in the Taklamakan Desert, China;deserts near Lop Nuur, China;and in China and Mongolia within and adjacent to Mongolia’s Great Gobi Strictly Protected Area (GGSPA). The population surviving in Mongolia remains poorly researched, but as few as 500 individuals may survive, although its distribution has remained relatively constant over the past 30 - 50 years. This study aimed at identifying potentially important environmental factors that influence the distribution of wild camels in Mongolia and predicting seasonal movement. We predicted distribution by season using presence only data and selected environmental predictors, including land surface temperature, normalized difference vegetation indices (NDVI), water sources, vegetation and soil. Model predictions revealed that land surface temperature in summer correlated significantly with wild camel distribution, with camels occurring in cooler areas. Abundance of biomass did not significantly correlate with camel distribution. Camels occurred in areas with intermediate levels of NDVI in most seasons, implying that they may base foraging decisions on forage quantity, not quality. Positive correlations of camel distribution with higher NDVI in summer (P = 0.03) suggests that they may prefer herbaceous species that appear after rainfall. Models indicate distance to water sources may be critical for camel distribution in all seasons. Camel occurrence correlated with areas containing shallow mountain soils in summer. Camels displayed no significant habitat correlations in other seasons, yet ranges differed among all seasons. Camels used a common region in spring, summer and autumn that we believe represents the core of the species’ annual range. Wild camel distribution during winter varied significantly from other seasons. Our modelling led to a predicted distribution range that was consistent with ranges described by previous research, indicating consistency between survey data and satellite tracking data.
基金This work was supported by the PRAD project under grant agreement number 28027YMthe Institut Agronomique et Veterinaire Hassan II,BIPAR and Ecole Nationale Veterinaire de Toulouse。
文摘Background:There has been a growing interest in camel anaplasmosis due to its recent emergence in this reservoir species and concerns for its zoonotic potential.The epidemiology of anaplasmosis in camels therefore remains poorly understood mostly because camels belong to marginalised poor and often transhumant populations whose interests are largely neglected.Most studies of anaplasmosis in camels have relied on microscopy and serology for diagnosis and only three studies,undertaken in Tunisia,Saudia Arabia and China,have used molecular diagnostics.The present work characterises Anaplasmataceae strains circulating in the Camelus dromedarius reservoir in Morocco using PCR.Methods:Camels(n=106)were randomly sampled from 6 regions representing different agro-ecological areas in southern Morocco.Whole blood was collected and screened using PCR methods targeting the gene groEL.Anaplasmataceae strains were characterised by sequence analysis of the gene groEL.Results:A total of 39.62%(42/106)camels screened were positive for Anaplasmataceae spp.GenBank BLAST analysis of five positive sequenced samples revealed that all strains were 100%identical to“Candidatus Anaplasma camelii”.Phylogenetic investigation and genetic characterisation of the aligned segment(650 bp)of the gene groEL confirmed high similarity with A.platys.Conclusion:This study demonstrates the circulation of a previously unidentified species of the genus Anaplasma in Morocco which is genetically close to the agent causing canine anaplasmosis but whose main reservoir is thought to be Camelus dromedarius.Trial registration number:This study is not a clinical trial and therefore a trial registration number does not apply.