FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology2003; 22(5); 303-305; doi: 10.1007/s10096-003-0935-1

A case of equine granulocytic ehrlichiosis provides molecular evidence for the presence of pathogenic anaplasma phagocytophilum (HGE agent) in Germany.

Abstract: Based on seroprevalence studies and tick infection rates, tick-borne human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) is thought to occur in Germany, but to date no clinical case has been detected. Reported here are the first ehrlichial sequences derived from a German horse that fell ill with granulocytic ehrlichiosis. The analysis of three different genes (16S rRNA gene, groESL, and ankA) revealed up to 100% identity with ehrlichial sequences derived from patients with HGE in other countries or from infected ticks in Germany. Thus, the current lack of clinical cases of HGE in Germany is unlikely to result from the absence of pathogenic granulocytic ehrlichiae strains in German ticks.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2003-05-10 PubMed ID: 12740667DOI: 10.1007/s10096-003-0935-1Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article discusses the first identified case of equine granulocytic ehrlichiosis in Germany, indicating that the pathogenic agent Anaplasma phagocytophilum is present in the country despite the lack of detected human cases.

Introduction

  • The study is centered on the investigation of a disease called human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE), a tick-borne illness that was suspected but not previously documented in Germany.
  • The researchers examined a case of granulocytic ehrlichiosis in a German horse, marking this the first recorded instance of the disease in animals within the country.

Methods

  • The team analyzed three different genes (16S rRNA gene, groESL, and ankA) from the ehrlichia bacteria found in the sick horse.
  • The genetic sequences obtained were compared to known strains of bacteria associated with HGE in other countries and from infected ticks within Germany.

Results

  • The findings showed that the ehrlichia sequences derived from the German horse shared up to 100% identity with strains found in HGE patients abroad and in ticks from Germany.
  • This result underlines that the particular strains of ehrlichia which can cause HGE are present in Germany.

Conclusions

  • Despite no previous reports of clinical cases of HGE in humans in Germany, this study provides molecular evidence that the pathogenic bacteria Anaplasma phagocytophilum (HGE agent) exists in Germany.
  • Therefore, the absence of clinical HGE cases in humans in Germany does not appear to be due to the lack of the pathogenic strains of ehrlichia in German ticks.

Cite This Article

APA
Von Loewenich FD, Stumpf G, Baumgarten BU, Röllinghoff M, Dumler JS, Bogdan C. (2003). A case of equine granulocytic ehrlichiosis provides molecular evidence for the presence of pathogenic anaplasma phagocytophilum (HGE agent) in Germany. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 22(5), 303-305. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-003-0935-1

Publication

European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology
ISSN: 0934-9723
NlmUniqueID: 8804297
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 22
Issue: 5
Pages: 303-305

Researcher Affiliations

Von Loewenich, F D
  • Institute of Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, University of Erlangen, Wasserturmstrasse 3-5, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.
Stumpf, G
    Baumgarten, B U
      Röllinghoff, M
        Dumler, J S
          Bogdan, C

            MeSH Terms

            • Anaplasma phagocytophilum / genetics
            • Anaplasma phagocytophilum / pathogenicity
            • Animals
            • Base Sequence
            • Ehrlichia / genetics
            • Ehrlichia / isolation & purification
            • Ehrlichiosis / diagnosis
            • Ehrlichiosis / epidemiology
            • Ehrlichiosis / veterinary
            • Germany / epidemiology
            • Granulocytes / microbiology
            • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
            • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
            • Horses
            • Incidence
            • Ixodes / microbiology
            • Molecular Biology
            • Molecular Sequence Data
            • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
            • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
            • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
            • Retrospective Studies
            • Sampling Studies
            • Sensitivity and Specificity

            References

            This article includes 25 references
            1. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1969 Jul 15;155(2):462-9
              pubmed: 5819585
            2. Vet Rec. 2001 Jul 28;149(4):127-8
              pubmed: 11504211
            3. J Clin Microbiol. 2000 Aug;38(8):2917-22
              pubmed: 10921951
            4. Clin Infect Dis. 1998 Sep;27(3):424-8
              pubmed: 9770134
            5. J Clin Microbiol. 2000 Apr;38(4):1364-9
              pubmed: 10747108
            6. Infect Immun. 2000 Sep;68(9):5277-83
              pubmed: 10948155
            7. J Clin Microbiol. 1999 Jan;37(1):209-10
              pubmed: 9854093
            8. J Clin Microbiol. 1999 Nov;37(11):3448-51
              pubmed: 10523532
            9. J Clin Microbiol. 1994 Mar;32(3):589-95
              pubmed: 8195363
            10. J Clin Microbiol. 1997 Aug;35(8):2087-92
              pubmed: 9230387
            11. Dtsch Tierarztl Wochenschr. 1984 Nov 22;91(11-12):408-9
              pubmed: 6397345
            12. Med Microbiol Immunol. 1999 Dec;188(3):145-9
              pubmed: 10776845
            13. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 1999 Mar;18(3):221-4
              pubmed: 10357060
            14. Clin Infect Dis. 2000 Aug;31(2):554-60
              pubmed: 10987720
            15. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2001 Nov;51(Pt 6):2145-65
              pubmed: 11760958
            16. Vet Rec. 1989 Jun 17;124(24):634-5
              pubmed: 2773204
            17. Res Vet Sci. 1995 Mar;58(2):109-12
              pubmed: 7539151
            18. Vet Rec. 1994 Oct 15;135(16):387-8
              pubmed: 7831748
            19. J Clin Microbiol. 1996 Sep;34(9):2170-4
              pubmed: 8862579
            20. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract. 1993 Aug;9(2):423-8
              pubmed: 8358654
            21. Genomics. 1997 Nov 15;46(1):24-36
              pubmed: 9403055
            22. J Clin Microbiol. 1997 Jun;35(6):1556-9
              pubmed: 9163481
            23. Vet Rec. 2002 Jun 22;150(25):787-8
              pubmed: 12135075
            24. J Clin Microbiol. 1998 Jul;36(7):2035-7
              pubmed: 9650957
            25. J Clin Microbiol. 1997 Dec;35(12):3244-7
              pubmed: 9399527

            Citations

            This article has been cited 17 times.
            1. Bogdan AM, Mitrea IL, Ionita M. Equine Granulocytic Anaplasmosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Clinico-Pathological Findings, Diagnosis, and Therapeutic Management. Vet Sci 2024 Jun 13;11(6).
              doi: 10.3390/vetsci11060269pubmed: 38922016google scholar: lookup
            2. Gehlen H, Inerle K, Bartel A, Stöckle SD, Ulrich S, Briese B, Straubinger RK. Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum Infections in German Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jun 14;13(12).
              doi: 10.3390/ani13121984pubmed: 37370494google scholar: lookup
            3. Lesiczka PM, Hrazdilova K, Hönig V, Modrý D, Zurek L. Distant genetic variants of Anaplasma phagocytophilum from Ixodes ricinus attached to people. Parasit Vectors 2023 Feb 28;16(1):80.
              doi: 10.1186/s13071-023-05654-ypubmed: 36855167google scholar: lookup
            4. Rubel W, Schoneberg C, Wolf A, Ganter M, Bauer BU. Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Anaplasma spp. in German Small Ruminant Flocks. Animals (Basel) 2021 Sep 25;11(10).
              doi: 10.3390/ani11102793pubmed: 34679815google scholar: lookup
            5. Narankhajid M, Yeruult C, Gurbadam A, Battsetseg J, Aberle SW, Bayartogtokh B, Joachim A, Duscher GG. Some aspects on tick species in Mongolia and their potential role in the transmission of equine piroplasms, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi L. Parasitol Res 2018 Nov;117(11):3557-3566.
              doi: 10.1007/s00436-018-6053-xpubmed: 30178195google scholar: lookup
            6. Ribeiro AJ, Cardoso L, Maia JM, Coutinho T, Cotovio M. Prevalence of Theileria equi, Babesia caballi, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in horses from the north of Portugal. Parasitol Res 2013 Jul;112(7):2611-7.
              doi: 10.1007/s00436-013-3429-9pubmed: 23591484google scholar: lookup
            7. Silaghi C, Woll D, Hamel D, Pfister K, Mahling M, Pfeffer M. Babesia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in questing ticks, ticks parasitizing rodents and the parasitized rodents--analyzing the host-pathogen-vector interface in a metropolitan area. Parasit Vectors 2012 Sep 5;5:191.
              doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-191pubmed: 22950642google scholar: lookup
            8. M'ghirbi Y, Yaïch H, Ghorbel A, Bouattour A. Anaplasma phagocytophilum in horses and ticks in Tunisia. Parasit Vectors 2012 Aug 30;5:180.
              doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-180pubmed: 22935132google scholar: lookup
            9. Michalik J, Stańczak J, Cieniuch S, Racewicz M, Sikora B, Dabert M. Wild boars as hosts of human-pathogenic Anaplasma phagocytophilum variants. Emerg Infect Dis 2012 Jun;18(6):998-1001.
              doi: 10.3201/eid1806.110997pubmed: 22607827google scholar: lookup
            10. Silaghi C, Liebisch G, Pfister K. Genetic variants of Anaplasma phagocytophilum from 14 equine granulocytic anaplasmosis cases. Parasit Vectors 2011 Aug 16;4:161.
              doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-4-161pubmed: 21843364google scholar: lookup
            11. Scharf W, Schauer S, Freyburger F, Petrovec M, Schaarschmidt-Kiener D, Liebisch G, Runge M, Ganter M, Kehl A, Dumler JS, Garcia-Perez AL, Jensen J, Fingerle V, Meli ML, Ensser A, Stuen S, von Loewenich FD. Distinct host species correlate with Anaplasma phagocytophilum ankA gene clusters. J Clin Microbiol 2011 Mar;49(3):790-6.
              doi: 10.1128/JCM.02051-10pubmed: 21177886google scholar: lookup
            12. Strik NI, Alleman AR, Barbet AF, Sorenson HL, Wamsley HL, Gaschen FP, Luckschander N, Wong S, Chu F, Foley JE, Bjoersdorff A, Stuen S, Knowles DP. Characterization of Anaplasma phagocytophilum major surface protein 5 and the extent of its cross-reactivity with A. marginale. Clin Vaccine Immunol 2007 Mar;14(3):262-8.
              doi: 10.1128/CVI.00320-06pubmed: 17215333google scholar: lookup
            13. Kim CM, Yi YH, Yu DH, Lee MJ, Cho MR, Desai AR, Shringi S, Klein TA, Kim HC, Song JW, Baek LJ, Chong ST, O'guinn ML, Lee JS, Lee IY, Park JH, Foley J, Chae JS. Tick-borne rickettsial pathogens in ticks and small mammals in Korea. Appl Environ Microbiol 2006 Sep;72(9):5766-76.
              doi: 10.1128/AEM.00431-06pubmed: 16957192google scholar: lookup
            14. de la Fuente J, Massung RF, Wong SJ, Chu FK, Lutz H, Meli M, von Loewenich FD, Grzeszczuk A, Torina A, Caracappa S, Mangold AJ, Naranjo V, Stuen S, Kocan KM. Sequence analysis of the msp4 gene of Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains. J Clin Microbiol 2005 Mar;43(3):1309-17.
              doi: 10.1128/JCM.43.3.1309-1317.2005pubmed: 15750101google scholar: lookup
            15. Lin Q, Rikihisa Y, Massung RF, Woldehiwet Z, Falco RC. Polymorphism and transcription at the p44-1/p44-18 genomic locus in Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains from diverse geographic regions. Infect Immun 2004 Oct;72(10):5574-81.
              doi: 10.1128/IAI.72.10.5574-5581.2004pubmed: 15385454google scholar: lookup
            16. Felek S, Telford S 3rd, Falco RC, Rikihisa Y. Sequence analysis of p44 homologs expressed by Anaplasma phagocytophilum in infected ticks feeding on naive hosts and in mice infected by tick attachment. Infect Immun 2004 Feb;72(2):659-66.
              doi: 10.1128/IAI.72.2.659-666.2004pubmed: 14742506google scholar: lookup
            17. von Loewenich FD, Baumgarten BU, Schröppel K, Geissdörfer W, Röllinghoff M, Bogdan C. High diversity of ankA sequences of Anaplasma phagocytophilum among Ixodes ricinus ticks in Germany. J Clin Microbiol 2003 Nov;41(11):5033-40.
              doi: 10.1128/JCM.41.11.5033-5040.2003pubmed: 14605135google scholar: lookup
            Subscribe to our newsletter
            Join 99,780 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.