Tracking tick-borne diseases in Mongolian livestock using next generation sequencing (NGS)
Issued Date
2022-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
1877959X
eISSN
18779603
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85117615605
Pubmed ID
34689003
Journal Title
Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases
Volume
13
Issue
1
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Vol.13 No.1 (2022)
Suggested Citation
Chaorattanakawee S., Wofford R.N., Takhampunya R., Katherine Poole-Smith B., Boldbaatar B., Lkhagvatseren S., Altantogtokh D., Musih E., Nymadawa P., Davidson S., Hertz J., Fiorenzano J., Gray G.C., von Fricken M.E. Tracking tick-borne diseases in Mongolian livestock using next generation sequencing (NGS). Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Vol.13 No.1 (2022). doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101845 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/83404
Title
Tracking tick-borne diseases in Mongolian livestock using next generation sequencing (NGS)
Author's Affiliation
Mongolian University of Life Sciences
United States Military Academy at West Point
George Mason University
Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Thailand
Mahidol University
Duke University
Naval Medical Research Unit TWO (NAMRU-2)
National Center for Zoonotic Diseases
Mongolian Academy of Medical Sciences
United States Military Academy at West Point
George Mason University
Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Thailand
Mahidol University
Duke University
Naval Medical Research Unit TWO (NAMRU-2)
National Center for Zoonotic Diseases
Mongolian Academy of Medical Sciences
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
The livestock industry in Mongolia accounts for 24% of national revenue, with one third of the population maintaining a pastoral lifestyle. This close connection between Mongolian population and livestock is a major concern for pathogen transfer, especially given the increase in vector-borne diseases globally. This study examines blood samples from livestock to assess the prevalence of tick-borne bacterial infections across three provinces in Mongolia (Dornogovi, Selenge, Töv). Whole blood samples from 243 livestock (cattle=38, camel=11, goat=85, horse=22, sheep=87) were analyzed with 16S metagenomics next-generation sequencing (NGS) to screen for bacterial pathogens. Positive-NGS samples for Anaplasma, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, Francisella, Leptospira, and Rickettsia were confirmed by conventional PCR and DNA sequencing. Prevalence rates of Anaplasma, Bartonella, and Ehrlichia were 57.6%, 12.8%, and 0.4%, respectively. A significant difference in the prevalence of Anaplasma spp. in livestock by province was observed, with a higher prevalence in Selenge (74.2%, p<0.001) and Töv (64.2% p = 0.006) compared to the semi-arid region of Dornogovi (39.8%). In contrast, no association was observed in Bartonella prevalence by provinces. All Anaplasma sequences (N = 139) were characterized as A. ovis. For Bartonella species characterization, phylogenetic analyses of gltA and rpoB genes identified three Bartonella species including B. bovis, B. melophagi and Candidatus B. ovis. Bartonella bovis was detected in all 22-positive cattle, while B. melophagi and Candidatus B. ovis were found in four and three sheep, respectively. This study identifies a high prevalence of tick-borne pathogens within the livestock population and to our knowledge, is the first time NGS methods have been used to explore tick-borne diseases in Mongolia. Further research is needed in Mongolia to better understand the clinical and economic burdens associated with tick-borne diseases in both livestock and pastoral herder populations.