Differential gene expression in dromedary camels infested with sarcoptic mange.

Area of Science:

• Genomics and Parasitology
• Comparative Immunology
• Animal Science

Background:

• Sarcoptic mange, caused by Sarcoptes scabiei var. cameli, is a significant parasitic disease in camels, leading to production losses and mortality.
• Natural resistance to mange varies among camels, yet genomic insights into these defense mechanisms are lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differential gene expression, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and insertions/deletions (Indels) associated with natural resistance to Sarcoptes scabiei var. cameli infection in dromedary camels.
• To identify potential genetic biomarkers for mange resistance in camels.

Main Methods:

• Transcriptome analysis of skin scrapings from infected and healthy camels within the same herd.
• Analysis of parasite-unaligned sequences for SNPs, Indels, gene expression quantification, and differential expression across 23,008 genes.

Main Results:

• Gene expression was lower in infected camels (84.94%) compared to healthy camels (87.28%).
• Higher numbers of SNPs/Indels were observed in exonic regions of infected camels (5,538) versus healthy camels (3,629).
• Upregulated genes in infected camels were linked to inflammation, immune responses, and tissue remodelling, while downregulated genes were associated with cell cycle, hair formation, and immune functions.

Conclusions:

• Differential gene expression and genetic variations (SNPs/Indels) are associated with Sarcoptes scabiei mange resistance in dromedary camels.
• Specific differentially expressed genes (DEGs) like CXCL8, IDO1, IGFBP3, and KRTAP6-2 show promise as biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic targeting.
• This transcriptomic study provides a foundation for developing molecular tools to enhance disease management strategies for camels.