Detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in ixodid ticks from equine-inhabited sites in the Southeastern United States.
Abstract: Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a vector-borne, obligate intracellular bacterium that invades the neutrophils and eosinophils of infected individuals, causing granulocytic anaplasmosis. Equine cases have previously been reported in the United States from California, Florida, and Connecticut, but limited surveillance studies in the Southeast have been conducted. The objective of this study was to determine A. phagocytophilum prevalence in Ixodes scapularis ticks at southeastern U.S. horse-inhabited sites to evaluate the potential risk for equine exposure to A. phagocytophilum-infected ticks in these areas. Samples of I. scapularis were collected from selected barrier islands and Georgia mainland sites where feral and domestic equine populations are present, respectively. Ticks were individually tested for infection by amplification of the A. phagocytophilum ankA gene. The collective prevalence of A. phagocytophilum in I. scapularis ticks was 20% (n=808).
Publication Date: 2012-01-03 PubMed ID: 22214269DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2011.0757Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research investigates the prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, a disease-causing bacterium, in ticks living in Southeastern U.S. horse-inhabited areas and establishes a concern for potential exposure in these regions.
Background
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an obligate intracellular bacterium that carries and causes granulocytic anaplasmosis, a disease that affects neutrophils and eosinophils – types of white blood cells – in infected individuals.
- While there have been reported cases of the disease in horses from areas like California, Florida, and Connecticut, there is limited surveillance data in Southeastern U.S.
Objective
- The study aimed at discovering the prevalence of A. phagocytophilum in Ixodes scapularis ticks in horse-inhabited regions in Southeastern U.S., providing an insight into the possible exposure risk of A. phagocytophilum-infected ticks in those areas.
Methodology
- I. scapularis tick samples were gathered both from selected barrier islands and mainland locations in Georgia where both wild and domesticated horse populations are found.
- Each individual tick was tested for infection by enhancing the A. phagocytophilum ankA gene, which is a key gene in the bacterium.
Findings
- The overall prevalence rate of A. phagocytophilum in the examined I. Scapularis ticks was detected to be 20% in a sample population of 808 ticks.
- This indicates a significant presence, creating a concern for potential exposure of horses and other mammals to A. phagocytophilum-infected ticks in those regions.
Cite This Article
APA
Roellig DM, Fang QQ.
(2012).
Detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in ixodid ticks from equine-inhabited sites in the Southeastern United States.
Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis, 12(4), 330-332.
https://doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2011.0757 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Biological Sciences, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, USA. DMRoellig@cdc.gov
MeSH Terms
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum / genetics
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum / isolation & purification
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum / pathogenicity
- Anaplasmataceae Infections / epidemiology
- Anaplasmataceae Infections / microbiology
- Animals
- Arachnid Vectors / microbiology
- Ecosystem
- Female
- Genes, Bacterial
- Horses
- Ixodes / microbiology
- Male
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Prevalence
- Risk Factors
- Southeastern United States / epidemiology
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Dye-Braumuller KC, Gual-Gonzalez L, Abiodun T, Rustin LP, Evans CL, Meyer MM, Zellars K, Neault MJ, Nolan MS. Invasive Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) investigation in South Carolina: new records of establishment, pathogen prevalence, and blood meal analyses. J Med Entomol 2023 Nov 14;60(6):1398-1405.
- Krämer F, Hüsken R, Krüdewagen EM, Deuster K, Blagburn B, Straubinger RK, Butler J, Fingerle V, Charles S, Settje T, Schunack B, Stanneck D. Prevention of transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum by Ixodes spp. ticks to dogs treated with the Seresto® collar (imidacloprid 10% + flumethrin 4.5%). Parasitol Res 2020 Jan;119(1):299-315.
- De Jesus CE, Ganser C, Kessler WH, White ZS, Bhosale CR, Glass GE, Wisely SM. A Survey of Tick-Borne Bacterial Pathogens in Florida. Insects 2019 Sep 13;10(9).
- Nelder MP, Russell CB, Sheehan NJ, Sander B, Moore S, Li Y, Johnson S, Patel SN, Sider D. Human pathogens associated with the blacklegged tick Ixodes scapularis: a systematic review. Parasit Vectors 2016 May 5;9:265.
- Atif FA. Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma phagocytophilum: Rickettsiales pathogens of veterinary and public health significance. Parasitol Res 2015 Nov;114(11):3941-57.
- Stuen S, Granquist EG, Silaghi C. Anaplasma phagocytophilum--a widespread multi-host pathogen with highly adaptive strategies. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2013;3:31.
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