Anaplasma phagocytophilum in horses and ticks: a preliminary survey of Central Italy.
Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the causative agent of granulocytic ehrlichiosis, affects several species of wild and domesticated mammals, including horses. In this work we compared direct and indirect methods to evaluate A. phagocytophilum presence in Central Italy: 135 sera were screened by IFA for A. phagocytophilum and other haemopathogens (Theileria equi and Babesia caballi). Each horse was also tested for A. phagocytophilum 16S rRNA with a nested-PCR technique. In order to examine the risk of A. phagocytophilum transmission, 114 ticks were examined for the presence of A. phagocytophilum by PCR targeting the 16S rRNA. The seroprevalence against A. phagocytophilum was 17.03% and 11 horses (8.14%) showed positive PCR results. The concordance rate of A. phagocytophilum detection between IFAT and PCR had a K value of 0.34.
Passamonti
Fabrizio
F
Pathology, Diagnostic and Veterinary Clinic Department, Sport Horse Research Centre, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy. fabrizio.passamonti@unipg.it
Veronesi
Fabrizia
F
Cappelli
Katia
K
Capomaccio
Stefano
S
Coppola
Giacomo
G
Marenzoni
Maria Luisa
ML
Piergili
Fioretti Daniela
FD
Verini
Supplizi Andrea
SA
Coletti
Mauro
M
D041081:Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D006736:Horses / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000032:analysis; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013987:Ticks / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*
D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S