[Detection and sequential analysis of Granulocytic ehrlichia 444-Epank gene].
OBJECTIVE
To provide further pathogenic evidence of Granulocytic ehrlichia infection in China.


METHODS
Specific 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.


RESULTS
444 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%.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings further confirmed that Granulocytic ehrlichia infection did exist in China.
Zhao
Qiumin
Q
Department of Epidemiology, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology of Acadmy of Military Medical Science, Beijing 100071, China.
Cao
Wuchun
W
Li
Jianmin
J
Zhang
Panhe
P
Chen
Shanhu
S
Cao
Kexin
K
Gao
Dongqi
D
Yang
Hong
H
Zhang
Xitan
X
D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D004536:Ehrlichia / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D004269:DNA, Bacterial