title: Detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) from Brandenburg, Germany.
abstract: Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an obligate intracellular and tick-transmitted bacterium, which causes granulocytic anaplasmosis in animals and humans. Although infection with A. phagocytophilum in domestic animals and vector ticks is documented, there is sparse information on the occurrence of A. phagocytophilum in wild animals. Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) as well as raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) are wildlife species highly abundant in certain areas of Germany and represent a potential wildlife reservoir for zoonotic diseases. To obtain data about the occurrence of A. phagocytophilum in these animals, red fox and raccoon dog carcasses (hunted or found dead) were collected from January to September 2009 in the Federal State of Brandenburg, Germany. Lung tissue samples were subjected to DNA extraction and were examined for the presence of A. phagocytophilum DNA by means of real-time PCR. Anaplasma phagocytophilum was detected in 10 out of 122 (8.2%) lungs of red foxes and in 3 out of 13 (23%) lungs of raccoon dogs. To the best of our knowledge, A. phagocytophilum was detected for the first time in red foxes and raccoon dogs in Germany.
authors: Institute of Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Vera
authors: V
authors: Härtwig
authors: Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Freiburg, Germany.
authors: Friederike D
authors: FD
authors: von Loewenich
authors: Berlin-Brandenburg State Laboratory, Frankfurt (Oder), Germany.
authors: Christoph
authors: C
authors: Schulze
authors: Institute for Infectious Disease and Zoonoses, Department for Veterinary Science, Faculty for Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich, Germany.
authors: Reinhard K
authors: RK
authors: Straubinger
authors: Institute of Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Arwid
authors: A
authors: Daugschies
authors: Institute for Infectious Disease and Zoonoses, Department for Veterinary Science, Faculty for Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich, Germany. Electronic address: v.dyachenko@lmu.de.
authors: Viktor
authors: V
authors: Dyachenko
mesh_terms: D041081:Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005589:Foxes / Q000382:microbiology*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D046031:Raccoon Dogs / Q000382:microbiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000662:veterinary; D013045:Species Specificity; D013987:Ticks / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
keywords: Anaplasma phagocytophilum; Lung tissue; Nyctereutes procyonoides; Raccoon dogs; Real-time PCR; Red foxes; Vulpes vulpes