Anaplasma phagocytophilum ; Anaplasmosis ; epidemiology ; Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Dermacentor ; microbiology ; Humans ; Molecular Epidemiology

Members of the genus Anaplasma are important emerging tick-borne pathogens in both humans and animals in tropical and subtropical areas. Here, we investigated the presence of Anaplasma spp. in 621 sheep and 710 goats from six provinces of China. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing were conducted to determine the prevalence of Anaplasma (A.) phagocytophilum, A. ovis and A. bovis targeting the 16S ribosomal RNA or the major surface protein 4 gene. PCR revealed Anaplasma in 39.0% (240/621) of sheep and 45.5% (323/710) of goats. The most frequently detected species was A. ovis (88/621, 14.2% for sheep; 129/710, 18.2% for goats), followed by A. bovis (60/621, 9.7% for sheep; 74/710, 10.4% for goats) and A. phagocytophilum (33/621, 5.3% for sheep; 15/710, 2.1% for goats). Additionally, eight sheep and 20 goats were found to be infected with three pathogens simultaneously. DNA sequencing confirmed the presence of these three Anaplasma species in the investigated areas, and phylogenetic analysis indicated that there was geographic segregation to a certain extent, as well as a relationship between the host and cluster of A. ovis. The results of the present study provide valuable data that helps understand the epidemiology of anaplasmosis in ruminants from China.
Anaplasma ovis ; Anaplasma phagocytophilum ; Anaplasma* ; Anaplasmosis ; Animals ; China* ; Epidemiology ; Goats* ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Ruminants ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sheep*

This study examined the occurrence of Anaplasma spp. and hemoplasma infection in leopard cats, Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus, in Korea. Twenty-nine biological samples were tested by molecular analysis. Two (6.9%) and eight (27.6%) tested specimens were positive for Anaplasma bovis and hemoplasma infection, respectively. Based on our results, Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp. and hemoplasma are regularly infecting leopard cat populations of Korea. Considering their endangered status, regular monitoring of infection by arthropod-borne pathogens known to cause clinical symptoms in feline hosts such as Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp. and hemoplasma would be crucial as part of ongoing conservation efforts.
Anaplasma/*isolation & purification ; Anaplasmosis/*epidemiology/microbiology ; Animals ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Felidae ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycoplasma/*isolation & purification ; Mycoplasma Infections/epidemiology/microbiology/*veterinary ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/veterinary

Outbreaks of tick-borne disease cases in Santa Catarina, Brazil are known, but the presence of the pathogen DNA has never been determined. In this study, the first survey of Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bigemina, and Babesia bovis DNA on blood samples of 33 cattle from an outbreak in Ponte Alta Municipality, Santa Catarina, Brazil, has been carried out. A multiplex PCR detected 54.5% of animals were co-infected with 2 or 3 parasites, while 24.2% were infected with only 1 species. The most prevalent agent was B. bigemina (63.6%) followed by A. marginale (60.6%). This is the first report of tick-borne disease pathogens obtained by DNA analysis in Southern Brazil.
Anaplasma marginale/genetics/isolation & purification ; Anaplasmosis/*epidemiology ; Animals ; Babesia/genetics/isolation & purification ; Babesiosis/*epidemiology ; Brazil/epidemiology ; Cattle ; DNA, Protozoan/blood/isolation & purification ; Disease Outbreaks/*veterinary ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/*veterinary

OBJECTIVELyme disease and Human granulocytic anaplasmosis are tick-borne diseases caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum respectively. We have investigated infection and co-infection of the two diseases in the population of forest areas of eight provinces in China by measuring seroprevalence of antibodies against B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum.

METHODSForest areas in 8 provinces were chosen for investigation using whole sampling and questionnaire survey methods. 3 669 serum samples from people in the forest areas were tested for the presence of antibodies by indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA).

RESULTSSeroprevalence against B. burgdorferi was 3% to 15% and against A. phagocytophilum was 2% to 18% in the study sites in the 8 provinces in China. We also found co-infection of B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum in 7 of the 8 provinces (the exception being the Miyun area in Beijing). The seroprevalence for both B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum was significantly higher among people exposed to ticks than among people who were not exposed to ticks.

CONCLUSIONWe conclude that both pathogens are endemic in the forest areas in the eight provinces, but the prevalence of B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum differs between the provinces.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anaplasma phagocytophilum ; pathogenicity ; Anaplasmosis ; blood ; epidemiology ; Animals ; Borrelia burgdorferi ; pathogenicity ; Child ; China ; Coinfection ; Female ; Humans ; Lyme Disease ; blood ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Tick-Borne Diseases ; blood ; epidemiology ; Trees ; Young Adult

Researches in veterinary protozoology until the end of World War II were carried out entirely by Japanese workers such as Danagga, Yamada, Yuhoba and Isshiki. After the Korean war, investigations have been made by several Korean researchers such as Lee's, Son, Joen and Jang. The total species and genera of veterinary protozoa reported by authors up to date were 19 genera and 59 species except the commensal ciliates. Incidence of the protozoa were carried out for 4 years(1972-l975) by examining fecal samples and vaginal swabs in order to know the parasitic status of the domestic animals and poultry. The results are shown as followings. In dairy cattle: Entamoeba bovis 41.4 per cent , Eimeria spp. 5.6-15.0 per cent. In native cattle: Entamoeba bovis 47.6 per cent, Tritrichomonas foetus 8.5 per cent. In native horse: Eimeria sp. 10.0 per cent. In goat: Eimeria spp. 100 per cent. In swine: Entamoeba spp. 55.44 per cent, Eimeria spp. 20 per cent, Balantidium coli 66.58 per cent. In dog: Isospora bigemina(Large type) 8.7 per cent, Giardia canis 4.4 per cent. In cat: Isospora spp. 12.8 per cent. In hare: Entamoeba cuniculi 12.0 per cent, Eimeria spp. 20.0 per cent, Chilomastix cuniculi 12.0 per cent , Giardia cuniculi 4.0 per cent. In turkey: Eimeria spp. 33.3 per cent, Hexamita meleagriais 8.3 per cent. In chicken: Eimeria spp. 26.8 per cent. The main protozoan diseases of the domestic animals and poultry in Korea may be summarized from the data reported and surveyed as followings. Coccidiosis; poultry, hare, goat, cattle, swine. Theileriasis; cattle. Babesiasis; cattle, dog. Anaplasmosis; cattle, goat. Eperythrozoonosis; cattle, swine. Leucocytozoonosis; chicken. Histomoniasis; chicken. Toxoplasmosis; swine, cat. Balantidiasis; swine. Besnoitiosis; native cattle. Amoebiasis; swine, cattle. Sarcosporidiosis; Cattle, swine.
parasitology-protozoa ; epidemiology ; cattle ; horse ; swine ; dog ; hare ; turkey ; cat ; Entamoeba bovis ; Eimeria spp. ; tritrichomonas foetus ; Entamoeba spp. ; Balantidium coli ; Isospora bigemina ; Giardia canis ; Isospora spp. ; Entamoeba cuniculi ; Chilomastix cuniculi ; Giardia cuniculi ; Hexamita meleagriais ; Coccidiosis ; Theileriasis ; Babesiasis ; Anaplasmosis ; Eperythrozoonosis ; Leucocytozoonosis ; Histomoniasis ; Toxoplasmosis ; Balantidiasis ; Besnoitiosis ; Amoebiasis ; Sarcosporidiosis