New findings on anaplasmosis caused by infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum.
Abstract: Ixodes ricinus (I. ricinus) is one of the vectors of Anaplasma phagocytophilum (A. phagocytophilum) in Europe, in which rates of infection range from 1.9% to 34%. In 1998, human granulocytic ehrlichiosis-like (HGE-like) Ehrlichia DNA was detected in Italy, by PCR technique in one I. ricinus nymph out of 55 ticks that were examined. In 1996, 6.3% of 310 human sera in high-risk subjects from Italy were found positive for antibodies to Ehrlichia phagocytophila (E. phagocytophila). In the same year, the authors reported the first case of equine granulocytic ehrlichiosis. In 1997, only 2 out of 563 equine blood samples examined were found positive for antibodies to E. phagocytophila in the Latium region. In 1998, serological positivity was not observed in 14 symptomatic race horses. In 2002, a symptomatic horse living in Rome was found positive for Ehrlichia equi (E. equi) antibodies, as confirmed by PCR. E. equi was also demonstrated in horses by detection of specific antibodies from two asymptomatic ponies. We tested 128 sera from sheep in different flocks, and antibodies to E. phagocytophila were detected in 17 sera (13.3%) of these sheep. From 2000 to 2004, 147 dog sera were tested for antibodies against A. phagocytophilum, and 7 of these sera were positive (4.8%). These data confirm the presence of the infection in human, domestic animals, and pets in Italy. Studies are under way to correlate the distributions of the disease and tick vector, I. ricinus.
Publication Date: 2006-12-01 PubMed ID: 17135539DOI: 10.1196/annals.1373.053Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research article explores the prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection, which is transferred through ticks, in various subjects including humans, horses, sheep, and dogs in Italy. It reveals that the infection is present in these groups, although the rates differ substantially.
Introduction to Anaplasma phagocytophilum
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum (A. phagocytophilum) is a bacterium transmitted to humans by tick bites, specifically by Ixodes ricinus ticks in Europe.
- The rates of tick infection with this bacterium can range widely between different regions or populations, from as low as 1.9% to as high as 34%.
Evidence of A. phagocytophilum Infection
- A. phagocytophilum DNA was first detected in Italy in a nymph stage I. ricinus tick in 1998 using a PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) technique.
- Previously, in 1996, 6.3% of 310 human sera were positive for antibodies to Ehrlichia phagocytophila (a bacterium closely related to A. phagocytophilum) in high-risk subjects in Italy. In the same year, the first case of equine granulocytic ehrlichiosis, a similar disease in horses, was reported.
- However, the prevalence of antibodies in horses tested in the Latium region of Italy was found to be relatively low in 1997, with only two positive results out of 563 blood samples. In 1998, no cases were found among 14 symptomatic race horses.
Further Prevalence in Animals
- By 2002, evidence was found of another closely related bacterium, Ehrlichia equi (E. equi), in symptomatic and asymptomatic horses.
- Furthermore, in a sample of 128 sheep, antibodies to E. phagocytophila were detected in 13.3% of cases.
- From 2000 to 2004, A. phagocytophilum antibodies were found in 4.8% of dog sera out of 147 samples tested.
- These data confirm the presence of the infection not only in humans, but also in domestic animals and pets in Italy.
- Future studies are planned to examine the relationship between the geographic distribution of ticks (the I. ricinus species in this case) and the prevalence of the disease.
Cite This Article
APA
Lillini E, Macrì G, Proietti G, Scarpulla M.
(2006).
New findings on anaplasmosis caused by infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum.
Ann N Y Acad Sci, 1081, 360-370.
https://doi.org/10.1196/annals.1373.053 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana, Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00187 Roma, Italy. elillini@rm.izs.it
MeSH Terms
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum / genetics
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum / immunology
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum / isolation & purification
- Animals
- Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
- Arachnid Vectors / microbiology
- DNA, Bacterial / analysis
- Dog Diseases / epidemiology
- Dogs
- Ehrlichiosis / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horses
- Humans
- Italy / epidemiology
- Ixodes / microbiology
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Sheep
- Sheep Diseases / epidemiology
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Almeida H, Alonso-Sardón M, Rodríguez-Alonso B, López-Bernus A, Romero-Alegría Á, Velasco-Tirado V, Muro A, Belhassen-García M. Impact of Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis in Spain from 1997 to 2022. Trop Med Infect Dis 2025 Jun 29;10(7).
- Žilić DJ, Naletilić Š, Mihaljević Ž, Gagović E, Špičić S, Reil I, Duvnjak S, Tuk MZ, Hodžić A, Beck R. Hemotropic pathogens in aborted fetuses of domestic ruminants: transplacental transmission and implications for reproductive loss. Front Microbiol 2025;16:1632135.
- 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).
- Chisu V, Dei Giudici S, Foxi C, Chessa G, Peralta F, Sini V, Masala G. Anaplasma Species in Ticks Infesting Mammals of Sardinia, Italy. Animals (Basel) 2023 Apr 13;13(8).
- Guccione C, Colomba C, Tolomeo M, Trizzino M, Iaria C, Cascio A. Rickettsiales in Italy. Pathogens 2021 Feb 8;10(2).
- Akl T, Bourgoin G, Souq ML, Appolinaire J, Poirel MT, Gibert P, Abi Rizk G, Garel M, Zenner L. Detection of tick-borne pathogens in questing Ixodes ricinus in the French Pyrenees and first identification of Rickettsia monacensis in France. Parasite 2019;26:20.
- Stuen S, Granquist EG, Silaghi C. Anaplasma phagocytophilum--a widespread multi-host pathogen with highly adaptive strategies. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2013;3:31.
- 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.
- Giudice E, Giannetto C, Furco V, Alongi A, Torina A. Anaplasma phagocytophilum seroprevalence in equids: a survey in Sicily (Italy). Parasitol Res 2012 Aug;111(2):951-5.
- Otranto D, Dantas-Torres F. Canine and feline vector-borne diseases in Italy: current situation and perspectives. Parasit Vectors 2010 Jan 11;3:2.
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