Multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis potentially reveals the existence of two groups of Anaplasma phagocytophilum circulating in cattle in France with different wild reservoirs.
Abstract: Anaplasma phagocytophilum is the causative agent of tick-borne fever, a disease with high economic impact for domestic ruminants in Europe. Epidemiological cycles of this species are complex, and involve different ecotypes circulating in various host species. To date, these epidemiological cycles are poorly understood, especially in Europe, as European reservoir hosts (i.e. vertebrate hosts enabling long-term maintenance of the bacterium in the ecosystem), of the bacterium have not yet been clearly identified. In this study, our objective was to explore the presence, the prevalence, and the genetic diversity of A. phagocytophilum in wild animals, in order to better understand their implications as reservoir hosts of this pathogen. The spleens of 101 wild animals were collected from central France and tested for the presence of A. phagocytophilum DNA by msp2 qPCR. Positive samples were then typed by multi-locus variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) analysis (MLVA), and compared to 179 previously typed A. phagocytophilum samples. Anaplasma phagocytophilum DNA was detected in 82/101 (81.2%) animals including 48/49 red deer (98%), 20/21 roe deer (95.2%), 13/29 wild boars (44.8%), and 1/1 red fox. MLVA enabled the discrimination of two A. phagocytophilum groups: group A contained the majority of A. phagocytophilum from red deer and two thirds of those from cattle, while group B included a human strain and variants from diverse animal species, i.e. sheep, dogs, a horse, the majority of variants from roe deer, and the remaining variants from cattle and red deer. Our results suggest that red deer and roe deer are promising A. phagocytophilum reservoir host candidates. Moreover, we also showed that A. phagocytophilum potentially circulates in at least two epidemiological cycles in French cattle. The first cycle may involve red deer as reservoir hosts and cattle as accidental hosts for Group A strains, whereas the second cycle could involve roe deer as reservoir hosts and at least domestic ruminants, dogs, horses, and humans as accidental hosts for Group B strains.
Publication Date: 2016-11-22 PubMed ID: 27876073PubMed Central: PMC5120488DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1888-4Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article explores the prevalence and genetic diversity of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, a bacterium causing tick-borne fever in cattle, in wild animals in France. It identifies two potential groups of the bacterium, suggesting a dual epidemiological cycle involving different animal reservoirs.
Research Aim and Methodology
- This study aimed to understand better the presence, prevalence, and genetic diversity of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in wild animals. This understanding would help to identify their roles as reservoir hosts, i.e., vertebrate hosts facilitating the bacterium’s long-term preservation in the ecosystem.
- The researchers collected spleens from 101 wild animals located in central France and tested them for the presence of A. phagocytophilum DNA using the msp2 qPCR method.
- The positive samples were then differentiated by applying multi-locus variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) analysis or MLVA.
- The results from the MLVA were compared to 179 previously categorized A. phagocytophilum samples.
Key Findings
- A. phagocytophilum DNA was discovered in 82 out of 101 animals. These included 98% of red deer, 95.2% of roe deer, 44.8% of wild boars, and a red fox.
- MLVA helped to distinguish two A. phagocytophilum groups: Group A and Group B. Group A comprised most of the samples from red deer and two-thirds from cattle; while Group B had a human strain and variants from various animals like sheep, dogs, horse, most variants from roe deer, and remaining strains from cattle and red deer.
- Based on these findings, red deer and roe deer are suggested as prospective A. phagocytophilum reservoir host candidates.
- The research also indicates the existence of two potential epidemiological cycles in French cattle. The first may involve red deer as reservoir hosts and cattle as accidental hosts for Group A strains, while the second could involve roe deer as reservoir hosts and domestic ruminants, dogs, horses, and humans as accidental hosts for Group B strains.
Implications
- This research enhances the understanding of the epidemiological cycles of A. phagocytophilum in Europe, specifically in France.
- It could significantly help in developing strategies to control the spread of tick-borne fever.
- By highlighting the potential role of different wild and domestic animals, the research could guide targeted interventions to reduce bacterium circulation.
Cite This Article
APA
Dugat T, Zanella G, Véran L, Lesage C, Girault G, Durand B, Lagrée AC, Boulouis HJ, Haddad N.
(2016).
Multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis potentially reveals the existence of two groups of Anaplasma phagocytophilum circulating in cattle in France with different wild reservoirs.
Parasit Vectors, 9(1), 596.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-016-1888-4 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'environnement et du travail, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, UMR BIPAR, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France.
- Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'environnement et du travail, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Unité d'Epidémiologie, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France.
- Fédération des chasseurs du Loiret, Orléans, France.
- Fédération des chasseurs du Loiret, Orléans, France.
- Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'environnement et du travail, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Unité des Zoonoses Bactériennes, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France.
- Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'environnement et du travail, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Unité d'Epidémiologie, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France.
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France.
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France.
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France. nadia.haddad@vet-alfort.fr.
MeSH Terms
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum / classification
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum / genetics
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum / isolation & purification
- Animals
- Animals, Domestic
- Cattle
- Cattle Diseases / epidemiology
- Cattle Diseases / microbiology
- Deer
- Ehrlichiosis / epidemiology
- Ehrlichiosis / microbiology
- Ehrlichiosis / veterinary
- France / epidemiology
- Genetic Variation
- Genotype
- Minisatellite Repeats
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