Ehrlichia ; Ehrlichiosis ; microbiology

Tick-borne rickettsial diseases (TBRD) are commonly encountered in medical and veterinary clinical settings. The control of these diseases is difficult, requiring disruption of a complex transmission chain involving a vertebrate host and ticks. The geographical distribution of the diseases is related to distribution of the vector, which is an indicator of risk for the population. A total of 1,107 ticks were collected by tick dragging from forests, ecotourism parks and hosts at 101 sites in 22 of the 32 states of Mexico. Collected ticks were placed in 1.5 mL cryovials containing 70% ethanol and were identified to species. Ticks were pooled according to location/host of collection, date of collection, sex, and stage of development. A total of 51 ticks were assayed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to confirm species identification using morphological methods. A total of 477 pools of ticks were assayed using PCR techniques for selected tick-borne pathogens. Anaplasma phagocytophilum was the most commonly detected pathogen (45 pools), followed by, Ehrlichia (E.) canis (42), Rickettsia (R.) rickettsii (11), E. chaffeensis (8), and R. amblyommii (1). Rhipicephalus sanguineus was the tick most frequently positive for selected pathogens. Overall, our results indicate that potential tick vectors positive for rickettsial pathogens are distributed throughout the area surveyed in Mexico.
Anaplasma phagocytophilum ; Animals* ; Ehrlichia ; Ehrlichia canis ; Ehrlichia chaffeensis ; Ethanol ; Forests ; Humans* ; Mexico* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhipicephalus sanguineus ; Rickettsia ; Ticks* ; Vertebrates

A total of 1,395 Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks collected from Jeju Island of Korea were examined by 16S rRNA gene-based nested PCR for the presence of infection with Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species. Template DNAs to detect the tick-borne pathogens were prepared from a total 506 tick pools. Eight genera of Anaplasma and six Ehrlichia by 16S rRNA gene PCR and sequencing analysis were identified. A. phagocytophilum was the most prevalent (27 [1.9%]) by nested PCR, followed by A. bovis (5 [0.4%]), E. chaffeensis (4 [0.2%]), and A. centrale (1 [0.1%]). In the phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA sequences, eight genera of Anaplasma group (> 99.4% homology) and six Ehrlichia group (> 99.5% homology) were close to deposited A. marginale strains (AF309867, AF414874, and FJ226454) and Ehrlichia sp. (DQ324547), respectively. Three Anaplasma species groups A. phagocytophilum (group A), A. bovis (group B), and A. centrale (group C) and one Ehrlichia species E. chaffeensis (group D) were determined by comparing with Anaplasma and Ehrlichia related sequences. First, twenty-eight A. phagocytophilum clones belonging to group A were divided into 7 genotypes. The sequence similarity among genotypes A1 to A4 was very high (> 99.6%). Genotype B2 was close to A. bovis from Korea (99.7%). Genotype D1 was close to known E. chaffeensis strains (M73222, AF147752, and AY350424) and their similarity value was 99.7%. In conclusion, the genera of Anaplasma/Ehrlichia, A. phagocytophilum, and E. chaffeensis identified in predominant H. longicornis ticks were ubiquitous throughout the Jeju Island. The various native groups have been found through sequence identities and phylogenetic analysis.
Anaplasma ; Anaplasma phagocytophilum ; Clone Cells ; DNA ; Ehrlichia ; Ehrlichia chaffeensis ; Genes, rRNA ; Genotype ; Korea ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Ticks

The study of canine vector-borne diseases in the Philippines started in the 1970s but only gained interest in the past decade. Characterization of such diseases in the Philippines remains incomplete, thus, it is necessary to obtain additional information on the prevalence and diversity of canine tick-borne diseases in the country. In this study, blood samples were obtained at two veterinary clinics in Metro Manila, Philippines from 114 dogs suspected of having canine tick-borne pathogens. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on whole blood DNA extracts followed by sequencing, and the following pathogens were detected: Hepatozoon (H.) canis (5.26%), Babesia (B.) vogeli (5.26%), Ehrlichia (E.) canis (4.39%), and Anaplasma platys (3.51%). Additionally, a set of multiplex PCR primers were developed to detect H. canis, Babesia spp. (B. canis and B. vogeli), and E. canis in canine blood. Multiplex and conventional single-reaction PCR results for the 114 dog blood samples were similar, except for one H. canis sample. Multiplex PCR is, therefore, a useful tool in screening infected dogs in veterinary clinics. This study's results, together with those of previous studies in the country, show that canine vector-borne pathogens are an emerging veterinary concern in the Philippines.
Anaplasma* ; Animals ; Babesia* ; DNA ; Dogs* ; Ehrlichia canis* ; Ehrlichia* ; Hospitals, Animal ; Mass Screening ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Philippines* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Tick-Borne Diseases

Animals ; Ehrlichia/isolation & purification* ; Ehrlichiosis/veterinary* ; Prevalence ; Rodent Diseases/microbiology* ; Rodentia ; Species Specificity

OBJECTIVETo provide further pathogenic evidence of Granulocytic ehrlichia infection in China.

METHODSSpecific primers derived from 444-Epank gene were used to amplify Granulocytic ehrlichia DNA from specimens of ticks, animals and human blood. PCR products of ticks were cloned and sequenced.

RESULTS444 bp specific DNA fragments were amplified from 2 of 62 pools of Ixodes persulcatus collected from Heilongjiang province and 1 of 129 blood specimens from forest workers in Inner Mongolia. Eight animal specimens were negative. PCR products from ticks were then cloned and sequenced. It differed at 23 positions in comparison to American strain (AF047897) with 94.9% homology. The homology of deduced ammonia was 88.44%.

CONCLUSIONOur findings further confirmed that Granulocytic ehrlichia infection did exist in China.

DNA, Bacterial ; analysis ; Ehrlichia ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Ehrlichiosis ; microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Animals ; China ; Ehrlichia ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Ehrlichiosis ; microbiology ; transmission ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Sheep ; parasitology ; Ticks ; microbiology

Ehrlichia (E.) canis is a Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium responsible for canine monocytic ehrlichiosis. Currently, the genetic diversity of E. canis strains worldwide is poorly defined. In the present study, sequence analysis of the nearly full-length 16S rDNA (1,620 bp) and the complete coding region (4,269 bp) of the gp200 gene, which encodes the largest major immunoreactive protein in E. canis, from 17 Taiwanese samples was conducted. The resultant 16S rDNA sequences were found to be identical to each other and have very high homology (99.4~100%) with previously reported E. canis sequences. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis of gp200 demonstrated that the E. canis Taiwanese genotype was genetically distinct from other reported isolates obtained from the United States, Brazil, and Israel, and that it formed a separate clade. Remarkable variations unique to the Taiwanese genotype were found throughout the deduced amino acid sequence of gp200, including 15 substitutions occurring in two of five known species-specific epitopes. The gp200 amino acid sequences of the Taiwanese genotype bore 94.4~94.6 identities with those of the isolates from the United States and Brazil, and 93.7% homology with that of the Israeli isolate. Taken together, these results suggest that the Taiwanese genotype represents a novel strain of E. canis that has not yet been characterized.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/*genetics ; Dogs ; Ehrlichia canis/*classification/*genetics ; Genotype ; Molecular Sequence Data ; *Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, Protein ; Taiwan

OBJECTIVETo study the existence of Ehrluichiosis, lyme disease and tick-borne spotted fever coinfection in some areas in China.

METHODSUsing polymerase chain reaction (PCR), B. burgdorferi sensu lato, spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsiae and human granulocytic ehrlichia (HGE), Ehrlichia chaffeensis (EC) were detected in ticks and mouse samples collected from Inner Mogolia autonomous region, Heilongjiang province, Beijing and Fujian province.

RESULTS408 Ixodes persulcatus collected from Inner Mogolia autonomous region, HGE and B. burgdorferi sensu lato and SFG Rickettsiae were detected positive, with rates as 6.8%, 7.8%, 45.6%, respectively. 5 (5/408) were coinfection with HGE and B. burgdorferi sensu lato while 1 (1/408) was coinfection with HGE and SFG Rickettsiae. 46 Ixodes persulcatus collected from Helongjiang province were determined positive, with rates as 6.5%, 10.8% and 34.8%, respectively including 1 (1/46) coinfected with HGE and B. burgdorferi sensu lato. 2 of 922 ticks collected from Beijing were detected positive with B. burgdorferi sensu lato. Among 283 groups of Haemaphysalis yeni ticks (3/group) and from 38 rodent samples collected from Ninghua county of Fujian province HCE and B. burgdorferi sensu lato and SFG Rickettsiae were detected. Out of them, 25 groups were positive with EC and the minimal positive rate was 3.8% while 21 rodent samples were positive with EC with a positive rate of 56.4%. 2 ticks and 1 rodent sample were detected positive with EC and spotted fever group.

CONCLUSIONCoinfection of HGE and B. burgdorferi sensu lato or spotted fever group Richi did exist in Ixodes persulcatus collected from Inner Mogolia autonomous region and Heilongjiang province. Coinfection of EC and spotted fever group Richi was found in the ticks and rodents collected from Fujian province.

Animals ; Arachnid Vectors ; Borrelia burgdorferi Group ; isolation & purification ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA, Bacterial ; analysis ; Disease Vectors ; Ehrlichia ; isolation & purification ; Ehrlichiosis ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Ixodes ; microbiology ; Lyme Disease ; epidemiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rats ; Rickettsia ; isolation & purification ; Rickettsia Infections ; epidemiology ; Rodentia ; microbiology ; Tick-Borne Diseases ; epidemiology ; Ticks ; microbiology

The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in the Korean water deer (Hydropotes inermis argyropus). Pathogens were identified using PCR which included Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, and Theileria. Rickettsia was not detected, whereas Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and Theileria infections were detected in 4, 2, and 8 animals, respectively. The most prevalent pathogen was Theileria. Of the 8 Theileria-positive animals, 2 were mixed-infected with 3 pathogens (Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and Theileria) and another 2 animals showed mixed-infection with 2 pathogens (Anaplasma and Theileria). Sequencing analysis was used to verify the PCR results. The pathogens found in this study were identified as Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia canis, and Theileria sp. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report identifying these 3 pathogens in the Korean water deer. Our results suggest that the Korean water deer may serve as a major reservoir for these tick-borne pathogens, leading to spread of tick-borne diseases to domestic animals, livestock, and humans. Further studies are needed to investigate their roles in this respect.
Anaplasma/isolation & purification ; Animals ; Bacterial Infections/epidemiology/microbiology/*veterinary ; Cluster Analysis ; Coinfection/epidemiology/microbiology/veterinary ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry/genetics ; Ehrlichia/*isolation & purification ; Korea/epidemiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Prevalence ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Rickettsia/*isolation & purification ; Ruminants/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Theileria/*isolation & purification