First evidence of Anaplasma platys in Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Acari: Ixodida) collected from dogs in Africa

Onderstepoort J Vet Res. 2003 Sep;70(3):205-12.

Abstract

A total of 27 ticks, comprising Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille) (n = 21), Haemaphysalis leachi (Andouin) (n = 4) and Haemaphysalis paraleachi (Camicas, Hoogstraal & El Kammah) (n = 2) were recovered from two clinically healthy female dogs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. DNA of Anaplasma platys was detected in a female R. sanguineus, using primers derived from the 16S rRNA gene, which amplify members of the family Anaplasmataceae . Anaplasma platys DNA was also detected in the blood of one of the dogs. Phylogenetic analysis based on partial sequences of the 16S rRNA, the gltA and the groEL genes ranged the detected agent within the Anaplasma clade. This is the first reported detection of A. platys in ticks in Africa. This finding raises the question of the possible involvement of R. sanguineus in A. platys infection of dogs.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Anaplasma / classification
  • Anaplasma / genetics
  • Anaplasma / isolation & purification*
  • Animals
  • Arachnid Vectors / microbiology*
  • Base Sequence
  • Chaperonin 60 / genetics
  • DNA, Bacterial / analysis
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Dog Diseases / microbiology*
  • Dog Diseases / parasitology
  • Dogs
  • Female
  • Glutamate Synthase / genetics
  • Ixodidae / microbiology*
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Tick Infestations / parasitology
  • Tick Infestations / veterinary*

Substances

  • Chaperonin 60
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • glutamate synthase A
  • Glutamate Synthase

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF478129
  • GENBANK/AF478130
  • GENBANK/AF478131