title: Molecular investigation and phylogeny of Anaplasma spp. in Mediterranean ruminants reveal the presence of neutrophil-tropic strains closely related to A. platys.
abstract: Few data are available on the prevalence and molecular typing of species belonging to the genus Anaplasma in Mediterranean ruminants. In this study, PCR analysis and sequencing of both 16S rRNA and groEL genes were combined to investigate the presence, prevalence, and molecular traits of Anaplasma spp. in ruminants sampled on the Island of Sardinia, chosen as a subtropical representative area. The results demonstrate a high prevalence of Anaplasma spp. in ruminants, with animals infected by at least four of six Anaplasma species (Anaplasma marginale, A. bovis, A. ovis, and A. phagocytophilum). Moreover, ruminants host a number of neutrophil-tropic strains genetically closely related to the canine pathogen A. platys. The high Anaplasma spp. prevalence and the identification of as-yet-unclassified neutrophil-tropic strains raise concerns about the specificity of serological tests routinely used in ruminants and provide additional background for reconstructing the evolutionary history of species genetically related to A. phagocytophilum.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zobba
authors.forename: Antonio G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Anfossi
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pinna Parpaglia
authors.forename: Gian Mario
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Dore
authors.forename: Bernardo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chessa
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spezzigu
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rocca
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Visco
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pittau
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alberti
mesh_terms: D000709:Anaplasma / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000712:Anaplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D018834:Chaperonin 60 / Q000235:genetics; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D007558:Italy; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012418:Ruminants / Q000382:microbiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D018834:Chaperonin 60; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S