"Candidatus anaplasma camelii" in one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Morocco: a novel and emerging anaplasma species?
BACKGROUND
There has been a growing interest in camel anaplasmosis due to its recent emergence in this reservoir species and concerns for its zoonotic potential. The epidemiology of anaplasmosis in camels therefore remains poorly understood mostly because camels belong to marginalised poor and often transhumant populations whose interests are largely neglected. Most studies of anaplasmosis in camels have relied on microscopy and serology for diagnosis and only three studies, undertaken in Tunisia, Saudia Arabia and China, have used molecular diagnostics. The present work characterises Anaplasmataceae strains circulating in the Camelus dromedarius reservoir in Morocco using PCR.


METHODS
Camels (n = 106) were randomly sampled from 6 regions representing different agro-ecological areas in southern Morocco. Whole blood was collected and screened using PCR methods targeting the gene groEL. Anaplasmataceae strains were characterised by sequence analysis of the gene groEL.


RESULTS
A total of 39.62% (42/106) camels screened were positive for Anaplasmataceae spp. GenBank BLAST analysis of five positive sequenced samples revealed that all strains were 100% identical to "Candidatus Anaplasma camelii". Phylogenetic investigation and genetic characterisation of the aligned segment (650 bp) of the gene groEL confirmed high similarity with A. platys.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates the circulation of a previously unidentified species of the genus Anaplasma in Morocco which is genetically close to the agent causing canine anaplasmosis but whose main reservoir is thought to be Camelus dromedarius.


BACKGROUND
This study is not a clinical trial and therefore a trial registration number does not apply.
Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Rabat, Morocco. h.lbacha@iav.ac.ma.|Département de médecine, chirurgie et reproduction, Madinat Al Irfane, Rabat Instituts, IAV Hassan II, BP 6202, Rabat, 10101, Morocco. h.lbacha@iav.ac.ma.
Hicham
H
Ait Lbacha
Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Rabat, Morocco.
Zaid
Z
Zouagui
Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Rabat, Morocco.
Said
S
Alali
Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Rabat, Morocco.
Abdelkbir
A
Rhalem
Anses, ENVA, INRA, BIPAR, Maisons-Alfort, France.
Elisabeth
E
Petit
Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.|Ceva Santé Animale, Libourne, France.
Marie Julie
MJ
Ducrotoy
Anses, ENVA, INRA, BIPAR, Maisons-Alfort, France.
Henri-Jean
HJ
Boulouis
INP-ENVT, Toulouse, France.
Renaud
R
Maillard
D000709:Anaplasma / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000712:Anaplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002162:Camelus; D018834:Chaperonin 60 / Q000235:genetics*; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000662:veterinary
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D018834:Chaperonin 60
Anaplasma camelii; Morocco; One-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius); Phylogeny; Tick-borne; groEL