Ecology of Anaplasmosis in Central Europe

摘要: Anaplasma phagocytophilum is the causative agent of granulocytic anaplasmosis of both medical and veterinary importance. In Europe, it is transmitted by the Ixodid ticks, mostly Ixodes ricinus, however other tick species such as Ixodes trianguliceps probably contribute to the enzootic cycle of this bacterium. According to some studies, the intraspecific variability of A. phagocytophilum plays an important role in the ecology of this pathogen. In order to understand the ecology of this pathogen in Central Europe we have analyzed and compared the genetic variability of different A. phagocytophilum strains from questing and feeding ticks collected from vegetation and different vertebrate hosts (roe deers, rodents, birds, sheeps, dogs) as well as blood and biological samples of some vertberate hosts (rodents and birds) from two regions of Central Europe (Slovakia and Northern Italy). A. phagocytophilum was detected in questing and host feeding I. ricinus ticks from all studied sites, rodent feeding I. trianguliceps, ear and spleen biopsies of rodents. Prevalence of A. phagocytophilum in areas with rodents was much lower (1.1%, 0.6%) than in areas without rodents (6%). In areas where I. trianguliceps were absent we did not detect A. phagocytophilum in rodents. Phylogenetic analysis of four genetic loci in positive samples have shown that genotypes in questing I. ricinus and feeding I. ricinus from ungulates, birds and dogs were distinct from genotypes found in rodents and feeding I. trianguliceps. Msp4, DOV and GroESL sequences of A. phagocytophilum genotypes showed considerable heterogeneity but none of the positive questing I. ricinus tick was …