Genomic Characterization of a Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae Strain from Hu Sheep in Inner Mongolia, China
by
Lingli Dai
1,*, 
Na Wang
1,
Fan Zhang
1,
Yuemei Zhang
1,
Yue Song
1,
Wei Liu
1,
Xiaodong Cao
2,
Jingyu Shi
1,
Shihua Zhao
1 and
Fan Bai
1,* 1
Veterinary Research Institute, Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Hohhot 010031, China
2
School of Pharmacy New Drug Safety Evaluation Research Center, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010107, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Vet. Sci. 2026, 13(1), 79; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13010079
Submission received: 9 December 2025
/
Revised: 8 January 2026
/
Accepted: 10 January 2026
/
Published: 13 January 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases in Small Ruminants)
Simple Summary
Sheep farming is a vital industry in Inner Mongolia, but respiratory diseases often threaten flock health and farmers’ livelihoods. In this study, we investigated a specific bacterium (Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae) that causes pneumonia in sheep. We isolated a new strain, named IM-DMQ, from a sheep that had unusual tumor-like changes in its lungs, which is a condition not typically linked to this infection. After decoding its complete genetic material, we discovered this strain is genetically most similar to others found in China. We also identified specific genes that may help the bacteria survive and cause disease. These findings provide an important foundation for developing better detection methods and vaccines, which could help protect sheep health and support sustainable farming in the region.
Abstract
Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae poses a major threat to sheep respiratory health, contributing to significant economic losses in farming communities. In this study, we isolated a novel strain, IM-DMQ, from a Hu sheep in Inner Mongolia that exhibited pulmonary adenomatous-like lesions, which is an uncommon pathological manifestation for this pathogen. The complete genome was sequenced using a hybrid Nanopore and Illumina approach, revealing a 1,039,804 bp circular chromosome with a GC content of 29.15%, encoding 1529 genes. Functional annotation highlighted genes involved in essential metabolic processes and potential virulence mechanisms. Comparative genomic analysis demonstrated that IM-DMQ shares the closest ancestry (ANI: 98.3%) with the Chinese strain NXNK2203, while structural variations and 14 unique genes distinguished it from other global strains. Furthermore, microbial community profiling of the original lung tissue revealed a co-infection background involving multiple bacterial pathogens, offering an etiological context for the severe disease presentation. These results provide the first complete genomic resource for an M. ovipneumoniae strain from Inner Mongolia associated with unusual pulmonary pathology, offering insights into its genetic diversity and supporting the future development of targeted diagnostics and vaccines for regional disease control.
