title: Reservoir competency of goats for Anaplasma phagocytophilum.
abstract: The susceptibility of goats to infection by Anaplasma phagocytophilum (A. phagocytophilum) strains Ap-Variant 1 and Ap-ha was assessed by infestation of goats with field-collected Ixodes scapularis (I. scapularis) ticks. Both strains were infectious in the goat model. These results demonstrate that goats can be used in a laboratory setting to propagate A. phagocytophilum. Transmission from an infected goat to a naïve goat by I. scapularis tick feeding was used to demonstrate that goats are reservoir-competent for the Ap-Variant 1 strain.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd., MS G-13, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. rfm2@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Massung
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: Nathan J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Thomas N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Mather
mesh_terms: D041081:Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D006041:Goats; D018884:Ixodes / Q000382:microbiology