title: Molecular epidemiology of human and bovine anaplasmosis in southern Europe.
abstract: The genus Anaplasma (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae) includes several pathogens such as A. marginale and A. phagocytophilum that have an impact on veterinary and human health. In this study, we characterized A. marginale and A. phagocytophilum infections in humans, wild and domestic animals, and ticks in southern Europe (particularly in south-central Spain and in Sicily) by means of serologic study, PCR, and sequence analysis of major surface proteins (msp) 1alpha and 4 and 16S rDNA. The results suggest that A. marginale infections in this region are maintained in cattle and deer, with ticks and tabanids serving as biological and mechanical vectors of the pathogen, respectively. Infections with A. phagocytophilum may occur in humans and are maintained in cattle, donkeys, deer, and birds and are most likely transmitted by several tick species with as yet an unknown role as reservoir hosts for other wild and domesticated mammals. The presence of concurrent infections in cattle and deer suggests that these pathogens may multiply in the same reservoir host and illustrates the complexity of the epidemiology of bovine and human anaplasmosis in this region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Naranjo
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Fons
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Höfle
authors.forename: Isabel G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Fernández de Mera
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Villanúa
authors.forename: Consuelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Almazán
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torina
authors.forename: Santo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caracappa
authors.forename: Katherine M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kocan
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gortázar
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De La Fuente
mesh_terms: D000709:Anaplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000712:Anaplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012698:Serologic Tests; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial