title: Molecular identification and characterization of Anaplasma platys and Ehrlichia canis in dogs in Mexico.
abstract: The tick-borne pathogens Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma platys are the causative agents of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) and canine cyclic thrombocytopenia (CCT). Although molecular evidence of E. canis has been shown, phylogenetic analysis of this pathogen has not been performed and A. platys has not been identified in Mexico, where the tick vector Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.) is common. The aim of this research was to screen, identify and characterize E. canis and A. platys by PCR and phylogenetic analysis in dogs from La Comarca Lagunera, a region formed by three municipalities, Torreon, Gomez-Palacio and Lerdo, in the Northern states of Coahuila and Durango, Mexico. Blood samples and five engorged R. sanguineus s.l. ticks per animal were collected from 43 females and 57 male dogs presented to veterinary clinics or lived in the dog shelter from La Comarca Lagunera. All the sampled dogs were apparently healthy and PCR for Anaplasma 16S rRNA, Ehrlichia 16S rRNA, and E. canis trp36 were performed. PCR products were sequenced and used for phylogenetic analysis. PCR products were successfully amplified in 31% of the samples using primers for Anaplasma 16S rRNA, while 10% and 4% amplified products using primers for Ehrlichia 16S rRNA and E. canis trp36 respectively. Subsequent sequencing and phylogenetic analyses of these products showed that three samples corresponded to A. platys and four to E. canis. Based on the analysis of trp36 we confirmed that the E. canis strains isolated from Mexico belong to a conservative clade of E. canis and are closely related to strains from USA. In conclusion, this is the first molecular identification of A. platys and the first molecular characterization and phylogenetic study of both A. platys and E. canis in dogs in Mexico.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Avenida de las Ciencias S/N, Juriquilla, Querétaro, C.P. 76230, Mexico. Electronic address: c_almazan_g@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Consuelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Almazán
authors.affiliation: Posgrado en Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Unidad Laguna, Periférico y carretera a Santa Fe, Torreón, Coahuila, C.P. 27059, Mexico.
authors.forename: Vicente H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: González-Álvarez
authors.affiliation: SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: Isabel G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Fernández de Mera
authors.affiliation: Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille (CIIL), INSERM U1019-CNRS UMR 8204, Université Lille Nord de France, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cabezas-Cruz
authors.affiliation: Posgrado en Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Unidad Laguna, Periférico y carretera a Santa Fe, Torreón, Coahuila, C.P. 27059, Mexico.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Martínez
authors.affiliation: SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain; Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de la Fuente
mesh_terms: D000709:Anaplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000712:Anaplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000382:microbiology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004285:Dogs; D041061:Ehrlichia canis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D048508:Rhipicephalus sanguineus / Q000382:microbiology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
keywords: 16S rRNA; Anaplasma platys; Dogs; Ehrlichia canis; Trp36