RAD-Seq data advance captive-based conservation of wild bactrian camels (Camelus ferus)

AbstractThe evidence of camel hybridization—principally the crossing of Bactrian males and Arabian or dromedary females—is discussed against the backdrop of osteological evidence for the distribution of the Bactrian's wild progenitor, Camelus ferus. Historical and ethnographic evidence attesting to the widespread practice of hybridization, from Central Asia in the east to Anatolia in the west, is presented. The origins of camel hybridization are pushed back into the early 1st millennium B.C. and evidence for the presence of Bactrian camels in areas outside of its natural habitat is discussed in light of the advantages of hybridization. Cet article examine les preuves de l'hybridation des chameaux, plus particulièrement le croisement des mâles de Bactriane avec des femelles arabes ou dromadaires. Elles sont fondées sur l'évidence ostéologique de la répartition du géniteur sauvage des chameaux bactrians. Des témoignages historiques et ethnographiques attestant la pratique largement répandue de l'hybridation, de l'Asie centrale à l'est jusqu'à l'Anatolie à l'ouest, sont rappelés. Les origines de l'hybridation des chameaux se trouveraient donc repoussées au début du premier millénaire avant JC. Et les preuves de la présence des chameaux bactrians dans des régions situées hors de leur habitat naturel sont presentées ainsi à la lumière des avantages de l'hybridation.

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Molecular epidemiology of Rickettsia sp. and Coxiella burnetii collected from Hyalomma asiaticum in Bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus) in inner Mongolia of China

Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases ◽

10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101548 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 101548

Author(s):

Naren Batu ◽

Yunchong Wang ◽

Zhicheng Liu ◽

Tianpeng Huang ◽

Weidong Bao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Epidemiology ◽

Coxiella Burnetii ◽

Inner Mongolia ◽

Camelus Bactrianus ◽

Bactrian Camels

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The wild camel (Camelus ferus) in China: Current status and conservation implications

Journal for Nature Conservation ◽

10.1016/j.jnc.2021.125979 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 60 ◽

pp. 125979

Author(s):

Yadong Xue ◽

Jia Li ◽

Diqiang Li

Keyword(s):

Current Status ◽

Conservation Implications ◽

Camelus Ferus

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A Deadly Cargo: Gene Repertoire of Cytotoxic Effector Proteins in the Camelidae

Genes ◽

10.3390/genes12020304 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 304

Author(s):

Ján Futas ◽

Jan Oppelt ◽

Pamela Anna Burger ◽

Petr Horin

Keyword(s):

Cytotoxic T Cells ◽

Effector Proteins ◽

Target Cells ◽

Gene Repertoire ◽

Interspecific Differences ◽

Genes Encoding ◽

Bactrian Camels ◽

Pore Forming Proteins ◽

Sequence Similarities ◽

Cytotoxic Effector

Cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells can kill target cells based on their expression and release of perforin, granulysin, and granzymes. Genes encoding these molecules have been only poorly annotated in camelids. Based on bioinformatic analyses of genomic resources, sequences corresponding to perforin, granulysin, and granzymes were identified in genomes of camelids and related ungulate species, and annotation of the corresponding genes was performed. A phylogenetic tree was constructed to study evolutionary relationships between the species analyzed. Re-sequencing of all genes in a panel of 10 dromedaries and 10 domestic Bactrian camels allowed analyzing their individual genetic polymorphisms. The data showed that all extant Old World camelids possess functional genes for two pore-forming proteins (PRF1, GNLY) and six granzymes (GZMA, GZMB, GZMH, GZMK, GZMM, and GZMO). All these genes were represented as single copies in the genome except the GZMH gene exhibiting interspecific differences in the number of loci. High protein sequence similarities with other camelid and ungulate species were observed for GZMK and GZMM. The protein variability in dromedaries and Bactrian camels was rather low, except for GNLY and chymotrypsin-like granzymes (GZMB, GZMH).

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Activity patterns of wild Bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus) in the northern piedmont of the Altun Mountains, China

Animal Biology ◽

10.1163/15707563-00002471 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 65 (3-4) ◽

pp. 209-217 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Yadong Xue ◽

Diqiang Li ◽

Wenfa Xiao ◽

Fang Liu ◽

Yuguang Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Seasonal Variation ◽

Endangered Species ◽

Activity Patterns ◽

Relative Activity ◽

Diel Activity ◽

Arid Areas ◽

Critically Endangered Species ◽

Camelus Bactrianus ◽

Diel Activity Patterns ◽

Bactrian Camels

There are significant gaps in our knowledge of wild camel ecology; especially the activity patterns that allow them to adapt to desert environments. The wild Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) is a critically endangered species that survives in the extreme desert conditions of Central Asia. We conducted camera trapping surveys at seven watering sites in the northern piedmont of the Altun Mountains from 2010 to 2012. We analyzed the frequency of photo-captures to elucidate the wild camels’ diel activity patterns, and the seasonal variation in their activity at watering sites. We found that these wild camels were predominantly diurnal at watering sites, with an increase in relative activity from sunrise, reaching a peak toward midday, and then gradually decreasing in activity until sunset. The camels visited watering sites more often in winter than in summer. These results provide a guide for water development in the conservation of ungulates in arid areas.

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