title: Candidatus Neoehrlichia sp. in an Austrian fox is distinct from Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, but closer related to Candidatus Neoehrlichia lotoris.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Candidatus Neoehrlichia came under the focus of recent research in terms of human and pet relevance. Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis seems to be relatively abundant in animals and humans from Central European countries, whereas Candidatus Neoehrlichia lotoris was found solely in raccoons from the USA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Spleen samples from a total of 164 red foxes, originating from two western provinces in Austria (Tyrol and Vorarlberg), were collected and examined for the presence of tick-borne bacteria of the family Anaplasmataceae by PCR and sequencing. In a fox sample originating from Vorarlberg Candidatus Neoehrlichia sp. was found, which is genetically (16S rRNA, groEL) closely related to Candidatus Neoehrlichia lotoris but clearly distinct from Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study revealed, for the first time, the occurrence of Candidatus Neoehrlichia sp. in a red fox worldwide. A continuing screening of wild carnivores, especially foxes, and ticks for this potential pathogen is required to evaluate the actual occurrence and distribution of these bacteria. Further research is needed to elucidate the relationships of Neoehrlichia, as well as their reservoir and impact on wildlife, pets and humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria. adnan.hodzic@vetmeduni.ac.at.
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hodžić
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria. rita.cezanne@gmx.at.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cézanne
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria. georg.duscher@vetmeduni.ac.at.
authors.forename: Georg Gerhard
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Duscher
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria. harl_josef@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harl
authors.affiliation: Institute for Veterinary Disease Control, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Innsbruck, Austria. walter.glawischnig@ages.at.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Glawischnig
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria. hans-peter.fuehrer@vetmeduni.ac.at.
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Fuehrer
mesh_terms: D000710:Anaplasmataceae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D001317:Austria; D018834:Chaperonin 60 / Q000235:genetics; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005589:Foxes / Q000382:microbiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D018834:Chaperonin 60; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S