title: Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in moose (Alces alces) in Norway.
abstract: Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a tick-borne bacterium that infects a wide range of animal species. The aim of our study was to investigate the prevalence of A. phagocytophilum in Norwegian moose Alces alces and to characterize the bacteria by sequencing of partial msp4 and 16S rRNA genes. Hunters collected spleen samples from 99 moose of different ages during 2013 and 2014 in two areas: Aust-Agder County (n = 70) where Ixodes ricinus ticks are abundant and Oppland County (n = 29) where ticks were either absent, or abundance very low. A. phagocytophilum was detected only in moose from the I. ricinus - abundant area. The overall prevalence of infection according to 16S rRNA and msp4 gene-based PCR was 41.4% and 31.4% respectively. Sequence analysis of the partial 16S rRNA and msp4 gene revealed two and eight different sequence types respectively. Four of eight msp4 sequence types determined in this study were unique, while others were identical to sequences derived from other ruminants and ticks. The present study indicates that moose could be a potential wildlife reservoir of A. phagocytophilum in Norway.
authors.affiliation: Vytautas Magnus University, Vileikos 8, LT-44404 Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pūraitė
authors.affiliation: Vytautas Magnus University, Vileikos 8, LT-44404 Kaunas, Lithuania; Rosef Field Research Station, Frolandsveien 2667, 4828 Mjåvatn, Norway.
authors.forename: Olav
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rosef
authors.affiliation: Vytautas Magnus University, Vileikos 8, LT-44404 Kaunas, Lithuania. Electronic address: a.paulauskas@gmf.vdu.lt.
authors.forename: Algimantas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paulauskas
authors.affiliation: Vytautas Magnus University, Vileikos 8, LT-44404 Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Radzijevskaja
mesh_terms: D041081:Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D018884:Ixodes / Q000382:microbiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics*; D012418:Ruminants / Q000382:microbiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
keywords: 16S rRNA; Alces alces; Anaplasma phagocytophilum; Moose; Norway; msp4