Ultrastructure and phylogenetic analysis of 'Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis' in the family Anaplasmataceae, isolated from wild rats and found in Ixodes ovatus ticks.
A novel bacterium that infects laboratory rats was isolated from wild Rattus norvegicus rats in Japan. Transmission electron microscopy of the spleen tissue revealed small cocci surrounded by an inner membrane and a thin, rippled outer membrane in a membrane-bound inclusion within the cytoplasm of endothelial cells. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of the bacterium found in R. norvegicus rats and Ixodes ovatus ticks in Japan revealed that the organism represents a novel clade in the family Anaplasmataceae, which includes the Schotti variant found in Ixodes ricinus ticks in the Netherlands and the Ehrlichia-like Rattus strain found in R. norvegicus rats from China. The novel clade was confirmed by phylogenetic analysis of groESL sequences found in R. norvegicus rats and Ixodes ovatus ticks in Japan. No serological cross-reactivity was detected between this bacterium and members of the genera Anaplasma, Ehrlichia or Neorickettsia in the family Anaplasmataceae. It is proposed that this new cluster of bacteria should be designated 'Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis'.
Kawahara
Makoto
M
Nagoya City Public Health Research Institute, Hagiyama-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8615, Japan.
Rikihisa
Yasuko
Y
Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA.
Isogai
Emiko
E
Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Tobetu-cho, Ishikari-gun, Hokkaido, 061-0293, Japan.
Takahashi
Mamoru
M
Kawagoe Sogo Senior High School, Kosenba-machi, Kawagoe, 350-0036, Japan.
Misumi
Hitoko
H
Department of Anaesthesiology, Saitama Medical School, Moroyama-machi, Iruma-gun, Saitama, 350-0451, Japan.
Suto
Chiharu
C
University of Nagoya, Tsurumai-cho, Shouwa-ku, Naogaya, 466-8550, Japan.
Shibata
Shinichiro
S
Nagoya City Public Health Research Institute, Hagiyama-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8615, Japan.
Zhang
Chunbin
C
Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA.
Tsuji
Masayoshi
M
Rakunou Gakuen University, Bunkyoudai-midori-machi, Ebetu, Hokkaido, 069-8501, Japan.
D000710:Anaplasmataceae / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000711:Anaplasmataceae Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002462:Cell Membrane; D018834:Chaperonin 60 / Q000235:genetics; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000382:microbiology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology; D020459:Genes, rRNA; D018884:Ixodes / Q000382:microbiology*; D007564:Japan; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012703:Serotyping; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D018834:Chaperonin 60; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S