Molecular survey and characterization of a novel Anaplasma species closely related to Anaplasma capra in ticks, northwestern China.

Jifei Yang,Hong Yin,Jianxun Luo,Guangyuan Liu,Zhijie Liu,Junlong Liu,Qingli Niu,Rong Han,Yaoxu Shi

doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1886-6

Jifei Yang, Hong Yin + Show 7 more

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https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-016-1886-6

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Abstract

Background Anaplasma spp. are tick-transmitted bacteria that infect a wide variety of wild and domestic animals. These pathogens exhibit a high degree of biological diversity, broad geographical distribution, and represent a serious threat to veterinary and public health worldwide.ResultsA novel Anaplasma species was identified in Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis (Ixodidae) in northwestern China and was molecularly characterized by comparison of 16S rRNA, gltA, and groEL gene sequences. Of the 414 samples tested, 24 (5.8%) were positive for this Anaplasma species. On the basis of the 16S rRNA gene, this organism has been found to be closely related to and exhibit the highest sequence similarity with A. capra (99.8–99.9%) that was identified in goats and humans in northern China, but was distinct from other known Anaplasma species. Sequence analysis of the gltA and groEL genes revealed that this Anaplasma species was distinct from A. capra considering the lower sequence identity (88.6–88.7% for gltA and 90.6–91.0% for groEL) and a divergent phylogenetic position. Therefore, we described this Anaplasma species as A. capra-like bacteria.ConclusionsThe present study reports a potential novel Anaplasma species closely related to A. capra in H. qinghaiensis in northwestern China. The zoonotic potential of A. capra-like bacteria needs to be further determined.

Highlights

Anaplasma spp. are tick-transmitted bacteria that infect a wide variety of wild and domestic animals
In this study, DNA of an Anaplasma species was detected in H. qinghaiensis from Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu Province, northwestern China
Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis is a distinctive tick species that is common in high altitude areas in northwestern China, and preferentially infests domestic animals such as sheep, goats, cattle and yaks [13, 15, 16]

Summary

Introduction

Anaplasma spp. are tick-transmitted bacteria that infect a wide variety of wild and domestic animals. These pathogens exhibit a high degree of biological diversity, broad geographical distribution, and represent a serious threat to veterinary and public health worldwide. Members of the genus Anaplasma are gram-negative obligate intracellular bacteria that reside within membraneenclosed vacuoles in the cytoplasm of blood or endothelial cells [1]. This genus encompasses seven recognized species, which are known to infect mammals and different cell types [1]. A potential novel Anaplasma species closely related to A. capra was found in Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis ticks in a high altitude area in northwestern China

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