Genetic variability of anaplasmataceae bacteria determined in Haemaphysalis spp. and Dermacentor sp. Ticks on the territory of the Russian Far East

Abstract

In total, 484 Haemaphysalis japonica, 359 Haemaphysalis concinna, and 221 Dermacentor silvarum collected in Amur oblast and Khabarovsk krai of the Russian Far East were examined regarding the presence of Anaplasmataceae bacteria using nested PCR. All positive samples were characterized by analysis of the 16S rRNA gene and/or groESL operone nucleotide sequences. Forty-nine H. japonica and three H. concinna were shown to contain DNA of two new Ehrlichia genetic variants. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene and groESL operone nucleotide sequences analysis, these genetic variants were found to be most closely related to Ehrlichia spp. revealed in Haemaphysalis spp. ticks in Japan. Four H. concinna from Amur oblast were shown to contain DNA of a new Anaplasma bovis genetic variant, which corresponded to the A. bovis genetic variant revealed in a red gray-backed vole and a Siberian chipmunk from the Far East. Three H. concinna and nine D. silvarum contained DNA of atypical bacteria that cannot be attributed to any Anaplasmataceae genera based on the determined sequences of the 16S rRNA gene fragments. The revealed atypical bacteria significantly differed from each other and did not form a separate genetic group on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequences.