Buffaloes as new hosts for Anaplasma capra: Molecular prevalence and phylogeny based on gtlA, groEL, and 16S rRNA genes

Anaplasmosis in the Amazon: diagnostic challenges, persistence, and control of Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma phagocytophilum

Anaplasmosis remains a significant threat to livestock production in tropical regions, particularly in the Amazon basin, where ecological complexity and limited veterinary infrastructure challenge effective disease management. This review focuses on Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the primary species associated with bovine and granulocytic anaplasmosis, respectively. We examine the current state of diagnostic tools, highlighting the limited accessibility of molecular techniques in rural settings and the emerging but underutilized potential of technologies. Persistent infection and antigenic variation are explored as major obstacles for disease eradication and vaccine development. Although live attenuated and inactivated vaccines are in use for A. marginale, none provide sterilizing immunity, and no commercial vaccines exist for A. phagocytophilum. The review evaluates recent advances in recombinant antigens, chimeric constructs, and genetically attenuated strains, as well as future directions involving multiepitope design, novel adjuvants, and next-generation vaccine platforms. Additionally, we assess the role of tick control in disease prevention and emphasize the importance of integrated strategies in regions like the Amazon. Together, these findings underscore the need for context-specific solutions that address the ecological and epidemiological complexity of anaplasmosis in the Amazon basin.

Differential impact of spotted fever group rickettsia and anaplasmosis on tick microbial ecology: evidence from multi-species comparative microbiome analysis

Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) pose a significant public health challenge, as their incidence is increasing due to the effects of climate change and ecological shifts. The interplay between tick-borne pathogens and the host microbiome is an emerging area of research that may elucidate the mechanisms underlying disease susceptibility and severity. To investigate the diversity of microbial communities in ticks infected with vertebrate pathogens, we analyzed the microbiomes of 142 tick specimens. The presence of Rickettsia and Anaplasma pathogens in individual samples was detected through PCR. Our study aimed to elucidate the composition and variation of microbial communities associated with three tick species, which are known vectors for various pathogens affecting both wildlife and humans. We employed high-throughput sequencing techniques to characterize the microbial diversity and conducted statistical analyses to assess the correlation between the presence of specific pathogens and the overall microbial community structure. Pathogen screening revealed an overall positivity rate of 51.9% for Anaplasma and 44.6% for spotted fever group rickettsia (SFGR). Among the three tick species (Dermacentor silvarum, Haemaphysalis concinna, and Haemaphysalis japonica) analyzed, D. silvarum (the predominant species) exhibited the highest pathogen prevalence. The results indicate significant variation in microbial diversity between tick samples, with the presence of Anaplasma and SFGR associated with distinct changes in the microbial community composition. These findings underscore the complex interactions between ticks and their microbial inhabitants, enriching our understanding of tick-borne diseases.

Occurrence and Molecular Characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in Water Buffaloes (Bubalis bubalis) From Türkiye

PURPOSE

Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis are zoonotic protozoan parasites that are widely seen in domestic and wild animals worldwide. While these pathogens, which affect the digestive system of the hosts, cause high economic losses in animal breeding, they are also considered an important public health problem. In recent years, molecular-based studies revealed that 120 genotypes belonging to 44 Cryptosporidium species and eight G. duodenalis assemblages (G. duodenalis A-H) circulate among hosts. The aim of the study was to determine the presence and prevalence of cryptosporidiosis and giardiosis in buffaloes, for which there was only one previous study on the subject in Türkiye.

METHODS

In this study, Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis were researched in water buffaloes using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing. A total of 510 water buffalo stool samples were obtained from Sivas province, an important water buffalo breeding center in Türkiye.

RESULTS

Cryptosporidium spp. were detected in 20 samples (3.92%), whereas five samples (0.98%) were found to be infected with G. duodenalis. DNA sequence analyses of 18S rRNA and β-giardin genes revealed that five Cryptosporidium species, C. occultus (n = 1), C. andersoni (n = 1), C. ryanae (n = 16), C. parvum (n = 1), and C. bovis (n = 1), and G. duodenalis assemblages E were circulated in water buffaloes in Türkiye, respectively. In this work, C. ryanae was the most prevalent Cryptosporidium species, and DNA sequence analyses of these samples showed that 100% nucleotide identities were present between them. Cryptosporidium occultus (PP754270), C. andersoni (PP754271), C. ryanae (PP754272-PP754279, PP754281-PP754285, PP754287-PP754289), C. parvum (PP754280), and C. bovis (PP754286) obtained from water buffaloes in this study shared 98.59-100%, 99.88-100%, 99.49-100%, 99.62-100%, and 99.87-100% nucleotide similarity with isolates present in GeneBank, respectively. In addition, G. duodenalis (PP798352-PP798356) isolates had 99.56-100% (β-giardin) nucleotide identities with G. duodenalis isolates.

CONCLUSION

The existence of cryptosporidiosis (the five species) in water buffaloes was reported for the first time in the country. Moreover, one species (C. occultus) has been reported for the first time in Türkiye.

A comprehensive molecular survey of vector-borne blood parasites in cattle in Kyrgyzstan with a note of the first molecular detection of Anaplasma bovis and Candidatus Anaplasma Camelii

Vector-borne pathogens continue to increase their impact on the livestock industry worldwide. To protect animals against these pathogens, it is very important to identify the species that cause the disease and understand their prevalence. This study aimed to investigate the presence and prevalence of vector-borne pathogens in apparently healthy cattle in different parts of Kyrgyzstan using molecular diagnostic techniques. For this purpose, 531 blood samples were collected from the Osh, Jalal-Abad, and Batken oblasts of Kyrgyzstan. The blood samples were investigated for vector-borne pathogens using PCR, RLB, and RFLP. Moreover, DNA sequence analyses were used to confirm the results of molecular techniques and phylogenetic analyses of these pathogens. 359 (67.61%) out of 531 samples were found to be infected with at least one pathogen, whereas 172 (32.39%) were detected to be negative. Thirteen vector-borne pathogens were detected in cattle blood samples, and the prevalence of these pathogens was as follows: Theileria orientalis (47.83%), T. annulata (25.61%), Babesia major (0.19%), B. occultans (0.38%), Anaplasma phagocytophilum-like 1 (3.20%), A. capra (3.01%), A. centrale (2.82%), A. bovis (1.13%), (A) ovis (0.19%), Candidatus Anaplasma camelii (0.94%), Trypanosoma theileri (19.21%), Mycoplasma wenyonii (6.03%), and Ca. Mycoplasma haemobos (2.64%). Among the positive samples, one pathogen was identified in 189 cattle (35.59%), and co-infections (two or more pathogens) were determined in 170 (32.01%) animals. Theileria parva, T. mutans, (B) bigemina, B. bovis, B. divergens, and A. marginale could not be detected in the study. Anaplasma bovis and Ca. Anaplasma camelii were detected for the first time in the country. This molecular survey provides important epidemiological and genetic data for the vector-borne pathogens in cattle. The results of the study showed that vector-borne pathogens have a significant spread and distribution in cattle in Kyrgyzstan.

Molecular surveillance based on anaplasmosis in domestic small ruminants: First report on zoonotic Anaplasma capra and phylogenetic insights from Faisalabad, Pakistan

Anaplasma is an intracellular alphaproteobacteria that infects diverse blood cell types in animal hosts including small ruminants. Epidemiological and risk factors information on zoonotic anaplasmosis with respect to anaplasmosis in sheep and goats are scarce. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to estimate the prevalence, risk factors of anaplasmosis and phylogenetic investigation of A. capra in sheep and goats from Faisalabad district, Pakistan. Briefly, 384 blood samples were randomly collected from sheep and goats of Faisalabad district, Pakistan, during January to May 2022. The samples were processed for the detection of Anaplasma targeting 16S rRNA gene using PCR. The data regarding disease determinants were collected using a predesigned questionnaire. Out of 384 samples, 131 samples were found positive for Anaplasma spp. with a prevalence rate of 34.11%. The results indicated a significantly higher prevalence of anaplasmosis in goats (41.88%) compared to sheep (22.00%). In addition, the chi square indicated that housing type, tick infestation, gender, tick control practices, age, mix farming, and hygiene were significantly associated with the occurrence of disease. The analysis of multivariate logistic regression expressed gender as the significant risk factor (p = 0.0001, OR = 1.757, CI = 1.305-2.366). The acquired sequences revealed four novel isolates of A. capra (Genbank accession numbers ON834323, ON838209, ON838210, and ON838211). The phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene of A. capra revealed three distinct clusters with 99-100% homology with other isolates from different countries. Our isolates showed higher similarity with isolates from China (KM206273, KP314237, MT799937), Pakistan (ON238129, ON238130, ON238131), Angola (MT898988), India (MZ558066), Iran (MW692362), and Turkey (MT632469) isolated from human, sheep, ticks, goats, cattle, Gaddi goat, Persian Onager (Equus hemionus onager), and Turkish goats, respectively. In conclusion, A. capra is endemic in Punjab, Pakistan, there is a need to conduct large scale surveillance studies to assess the status of this pathogen at human-animal interface as well as to develop effective preventive and control strategies to reduce the economic losses associated with anaplasmosis in small ruminants.

Anaplasma capra: a new emerging tick-borne zoonotic pathogen

The genus Anaplasma includes A. marginale, A. centrale, A. bovis, A. ovis, A. platys, and A. phagocytophilum transmitted by ticks, some of which are zoonotic and cause anaplasmosis in humans and animals. In 2012, a new species was discovered in goats in China. In 2015, the same agent was detected in humans in China, and it was provisionally named Anaplasma capra, referring to 2012. The studies conducted to date have revealed the existence of A. capra in humans, domestic animals, wild animals, and ticks from three different continents (Asia, Europe, and Africa). Phylogenetic analyses based on gltA and groEL sequences show that A. capra clearly includes two different genotypes (A. capra genotype-1 and A. capra genotype-2). Although A. capra human isolates are in the genotype-2 group, goat, sheep, and cattle isolates are in both groups, making it difficult to establish a host genotype-relationship. According to current data, it can be thought that human isolates are genotype-2 and while only genotype-1 is found in Europe, both genotypes are found in Asia. Anaplasma capra causes clinical disease in humans, but the situation is not yet sufficient to understand the zoonotic importance and pathogenicity in animals. In the present review, the history, hosts (vertebrates and ticks), molecular prevalence, pathogenic properties, and genetic diversity of A. capra were evaluated from a broad perspective.

Anaplasma, Bartonella, and Rickettsia infections in Daurian ground squirrels (Spermophilus dauricus), Hebei, China

Rodents have been confirmed as hosts of various vector-borne zoonotic pathogens and are important for the maintenance of these microbes in nature. However, surveillance for zoonotic pathogens is limited for many wild rodent species in China, so our knowledge of pathogen ecology, genetic diversity, and the risk of cross-species transmission to humans is limited. In this study, 165 spleen samples of Daurian ground squirrels (Spermophilus dauricus) were collected from Weichang Manchu and the Mongolian Autonomous County of Hebei Province, China, and Rickettsia, Bartonella, and Anaplasma were identified by DNA detection using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sequence analysis identified eight bacterial pathogens: R. raoultii, R. sibirica, Candidatus R. longicornii, B. washoensis, B. grahamii, B. jaculi, A. capra, and Candidatus Anaplasma cinensis. Co-infection of B. grahamii and R. raoultii in one sample was observed. Our results demonstrated the genetic diversity of bacteria in Daurian ground squirrels and contributed to the distribution of these pathogens. Six species, A. capra, R. raoultii, R. sibirica, Candidatus R. longicornii, B. washoensis, and B. grahamii, are known to be pathogenic to humans, indicating a potential public health risk to the local human population, especially to herders who frequently have close contact with Daurian ground squirrels and are thus exposed to their ectoparasites.

Molecular Survey of Anaplasma capra in Goats in Van Province, Eastern Türkiye

BACKGROUND

A newly discovered zoonotic infection carried by ixodid ticks, Anaplasma capra, affects a wide variety of hosts, including numerous mammals. A. capra most likely infects erythrocytes or endothelial cells in mammals. This study aimed to investigate the A. capra pathogen in goats in Türkiye's Van province.

METHODS

A total of 200 goat blood samples were examined. Goat samples were subjected to partial amplification of the gltA gene fragment using a nested polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

A. capra DNA was detected in 0.5% of goat blood samples. Phylogenetic analysis of a partial gltA gene fragment showed that the Eastern Türkiye isolate, closely grouped with A. capra isolates reported from wild and domestic ruminants in France, Türkiye, and Kyrgyzstan, formed a distinct clade.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report of A. capra in goats in Van province, Eastern Türkiye.

Epidemiological and phylogenetic characteristics of emerging Anaplasma capra: A systematic review with modeling analysis

Anaplasma capra, an emerging tick-borne pathogen, has caused a lot of concern since initially recognized in goats and patients in China in 2015, and has been reported in a wide range of domestic and wild animals as well as ticks worldwide, posing a threat to public health. In this systematic review, we established a comprehensive database to acquire the distribution and prevalence status of this pathogen, and collected all sequences of A. capra to summarize the details of genetic diversity by phylogenetic analysis. We also predicted the possible global distribution of A. capra by using ecological niche model. A. capra has been known to distribute in 18 countries across Asia, Europe and Africa. A total of 19 species of mammals from seven families have been reported as hosts, and domestic ruminants including goats, sheep and cattle were the major hosts. At least 8 tick species of 4 genera have been reported to carry A. capra, and Haemaphysalis longicornis was most commonly infected. Sheep and Rhipicephalus microplus had the highest positive rates among animals and ticks. Phylogenetic analysis based on gltA and groEL genes revealed that A. capra could primarily be divided into two clusters related to geographic location and animal hosts. The predictive model showed that the most suitable habitats for presence of A. capra were mainly located in Asia and eastern Europe. These cumulative data regarding A. capra of our study lay a foundation for the subsequent exploration of this emerging tick-borne pathogen.

Molecular surveillance and genetic diversity of Anaplasma spp. in cattle (Bos taurus) and goat (Capra aegagrus hircus) from Hainan island/province, China

Anaplasmosis is a highly prevalent tick-borne intracellular bacterial disease that affects various host species globally, particularly ruminants in tropical and subtropical regions. However, information regarding the distribution and epidemiology of anaplasmosis in small and large ruminants on Hainan Isalnd is limited. To address this knowledge gap, the present study aimed to assess the occurrence of Anaplasma spp. infections in goats (N = 731) and cattle (N = 176) blood samples using nested PCR and conventional PCR based assays. The results revealed an overall prevalence of 30.1% in goats and 14.8% in cattle. The infection rates of A. bovis, A. phagocytophilum, A. ovis and A. capra in goat samples were 22.7%, 13.8%, 2.0% and 3.4%, respectively, while the infection rates of A. bovis, A. phagocytophilum and A. marginale in cattle samples were 11.4%, 6.3% and 5.7%, respectively. A. bovis exhibited the highest prevalence among the Anaplasma spp. in both goat and cattle samples. In addition, the most frequent co-infection was the one with A. phagocytophilum and A. bovis. It was found that the age, sex and feeding habits of cattle and goats were considered to be important risk factors. Evaluation of the risk factor relating to the rearing system showed that the infection rate for the free-range goats and cattle was significantly higher when compared with stall-feeding system.This study represents one of the largest investigations on the distribution, prevalence, and risk factors associated with Anaplasma infection in ruminants on Hainan Island, highlighting a higher circulation of the infection in the region than previously anticipated. Further reasesrch is necessary to investigate tick vectors, reservoir animals, and the zoonotic potential of the Anaplasma spp. in this endemic region of Hainan Island.

Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of Toxocara vitulorum in feces and milk samples from naturally infected water buffaloes

Toxocara vitulorum infects cattle and water buffalo, leading to mild to severe infection in calves and has wide geographic distributions, especially in tropical and subtropical countries. This work aimed to assess the prevalence, distributions, and phylogeny of T.vitulorum in water buffaloes in different parts of Sivas, one of the essential buffalo-breeding areas in Türkiye. T.vitulorum was found in 42 (8.23%) and 54 (10.58%) fecal (n:510) samples using microscopic and molecular techniques, respectively. T.vitulorum was higher in animals aged 0-6 months compared to other groups. Furthermore, when animals aged 0-6 months were grouped within themselves, the prevalence of T.vitulorum in 1-3 month-old-animals was higher than in both younger than one month and older than three months. T.vitulorum was detected in fecal samples obtained from animals older than six months. In colostrum/milk samples (n:100), T.vitulorum-larvae were found in 4% and 10% with microscopic and molecular techniques, respectively. The larvae were detected in colostrum/milk samples in the mother between the 2nd and 28th days postpartum-period. The ITS-1-gene of 11 PCR-positive samples was sequenced. The 98.99-100% nucleotide identity was determined between our T.vitulorum isolates and those present in GenBank. In conclusion, this is the first molecular survey and phylogenetic analysis of T.vitulorum in fecal and colostrum/milk samples from naturally infected water buffaloes. Data obtained in this study will help to understand the life cycle and epidemiology of the nematode. Data also revealed that veterinarians should consider older animals as well as young animals in their control program of nematode infections in farms.

First Molecular Evidence of Babesia vogeli, Babesia vulpes, and Theileria ovis in Dogs from Kyrgyzstan

Tick-borne parasitic diseases cause mild to severe infections among vertebrate hosts, including dogs. Species in the genus Babesia are important tick-borne pathogens and have worldwide distributions. Although there are data on the prevalence and distribution of Babesia species among dogs around the world, there is no information available in Kyrgyzstan, according to a literature review. In this study, 337 dogs were screened by nested PCR for the presence of the 18S small subunit ribosomal RNA (18S SSU rRNA) gene of piroplasm species. Overall prevalence was 6.23% (21/337) for Babesia/Theileria spp. DNA sequencing of positively tested samples revealed that eighteen samples were infected with Babesia vogeli (B. vogeli) (5.34%), two samples with B. vulpes (0.59%), and one sample with Theileria ovis (T. ovis) (0.29%). The phylogenetic analyses and nucleotide sequences in contrast with those present in GenBank revealed that two nucleotide substitutions (594th and 627th) were found between B. vogeli isolates, including ours, indicating that the mutation is relatively rare. The sequences of other pathogens obtained in this study confirmed 100% nucleotide identity with B. vulpes and T. ovis sequences in GenBank. To the best of our knowledge, B. vogeli, B. vulpes, and T. ovis were detected for the first time in dogs from Kyrgyzstan, and it is thought that results will contribute to the understanding of the epidemiology of canine tick-borne pathogens in the country.

Molecular survey of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and related variants in water buffaloes: The first detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum-like 1

Anaplasma phagocytophilum infects various hosts and lead to mild to severe infection. Currently, two A.phagocytophilum-related variants have been documented in different countries. Although limited, there are studies revealing the presence of A.phagocytophilum in water buffaloes, but no study investigating A.phagocytophilum-like 1 and -like 2. A.phagocytophilum and related variants were investigated using PCR, PCR-RFLP, and DNA sequence analysis in water buffaloes in Türkiye. 364 buffalo blood samples were examined for A.phagocytophilum and related strains. Seven buffaloes were determined to be positive with PCR and PCR-RFLP revealed that all samples were A.phagocytophilum-like 1. According to the partial sequence of 16 S rRNA gene, A.phagocytophilum like-1 may split into two different variants. This work supplies the first molecular report of A.phagocytophilum-like 1 in water buffaloes. However, a lack of information is present on the pathogen's clinical manifestations and vector species. There is still a need to investigate vectors and clinical signs of the pathogen.

Human-biting ticks and zoonotic tick-borne pathogens in North Africa: diversity, distribution, and trans-Mediterranean public health challenges

North Africa is home to more than 200 million people living across five developing economies (Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco) and two Spanish exclaves (Ceuta and Melilla), many of whom are impacted by ticks and tick-borne zoonoses. Populations in Europe are also increasingly vulnerable to North African ticks and tick-borne zoonoses due to a combination of climate change and the movement of ticks across the Mediterranean on migratory birds, human travellers, and trafficked wildlife. The human-biting ticks and tick-borne zoonoses in North Africa are reviewed along with their distribution in the region. We also assess present and future challenges associated with ticks and tick-borne zoonoses in North African and highlight opportunities for collaboration and coordination between governments in Europe and North Africa to address public health challenges posed by North African ticks and tick-borne zoonoses.

Molecular survey of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species in livestock ticks from Kassena-Nankana, Ghana; with a first report of Anaplasma capra and Ehrlichia minasensis

Tick-borne pathogens harm livestock production and pose a significant risk to public health. To combat these effects, it is necessary to identify the circulating pathogens to create effective control measures. This study identified Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species in ticks collected from livestock in the Kassena-Nankana Districts between February 2020 and December 2020. A total of 1550 ticks were collected from cattle, sheep and goats. The ticks were morphologically identified, pooled and screened for pathogens using primers that amplify a 345 bp fragment of the 16SrRNA gene and Sanger sequencing. The predominant tick species collected was Amblyomma variegatum (62.98%). From the 491 tick pools screened, 34 (6.92%) were positive for Ehrlichia and Anaplasma. The pathogens identified were Ehrlichia canis (4.28%), Ehrlichia minasensis (1.63%), Anaplasma capra (0.81%) and Anaplasma marginale (0.20%). This study reports the first molecular identification of the above-mentioned Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species in ticks from Ghana. With the association of human infections with the zoonotic pathogen A. capra, livestock owners are at risk of infections, calling for the development of effective control measures.

Diversity of Rickettsiales bacteria in five species of ticks collected from Jinzhai County, Anhui Province, China in 2021-2022

The order Rickettsiales in the class Alphaproteobacteria comprises vector-borne pathogens of both medical and veterinary importance. Ticks, as a group, are second only to mosquitoes as vectors of pathogens to humans, playing a critical role in the transmission of rickettsiosis. In the present study, 880 ticks collected from Jinzhai County, Lu'an City, Anhui Province, China in 2021-2022 were identified as belonging to five species from three genera. DNA extracted from individual ticks was examined using nested polymerase chain reaction targeting the 16S rRNA gene (rrs), and the gene fragments amplified were sequenced to detect and identify Rickettsiales bacteria in the ticks. For further identification, the rrs-positive tick samples were further amplified by PCR targeting the gltA and groEL gene and sequenced. As a result, 13 Rickettsiales species belonging to the genera Rickettsia, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia were detected, including three tentative species of Ehrlichia. Our results reveal the extensive diversity of Rickettsiales bacteria in ticks from Jinzhai County, Anhui Province. There, emerging rickettsial species may be pathogenic and cause under-recognized diseases. Detection of several pathogens in ticks that are closely related to human diseases may indicate a potential risk of infection in humans. Therefore, additional studies to assess the potential public health risks of the Rickettsiales pathogens identified in the present study are warranted.