Host-pathogen relationships in aoudad (Ammotragus lervia) and bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) with respiratory disease agents

To evaluate transmission propensity of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae and leukotoxigenic Pasteurellaceae from aoudad and bighorn sheep, we assessed the transcriptomic signals from bulk lung and tracheobronchial lymph node samples of aoudad and bighorn sheep exposed to Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae in either the presence or absence of leukotoxigenc Pasteurellaceae. Our aim was to determine gene expression patterns related to respiratory pathogenic exposure within nonindigenous aoudad and native bighorn sheep to provide crucial information related to respiratory pathogenesis and identify potentially predictive patterns in individuals as it relates to interspecific contact and mortality events. Overall design: RNA-Seq profiling of frozen lung (combined cranioventral and caudodorsal) and tracheobronchial lymph node samples collected at time of mortality.