Sample preparation

Blood samples of 105 domestic Bactrian camels were collected from villages in China (55), MG (28), KAZA (6), RUS (10), and IRAN (6). Blood samples of four dromedaries were also collected from IRAN. The collections were made during routine veterinary treatments with the guidelines from the Camel Protection Association of Inner Mongolia. An endeavor was made to collect samples from unrelated individuals based on the information provided by the owners and local farmers. We collected 50 ml blood for each camel from the jugular vein after disinfection treatment, placed it in EDTA anticoagulant tubes, and then stored it at −80 °C. Ear skin samples (0.5 cm) of 19 wild Bactrian camels were collected from the Great Gobi-Strictly Protected Area A in MG. The wild Bactrian camels chosen were artificially reared and the research was reviewed and approved by the Great Gobi National Park. Proper surgical procedures were adopted in the collection. Local anesthesia (5% procaine hydrochloride) was applied to the ear and the wound was disinfected with iodophor and sulfonamide powder. The samples were eluted with phosphate-buffered saline solutions, placed in cryotubes and were stored at −80 °C.