Molecular Survey and Genetic Identification of Anaplasma Species in Goats from Central and Southern China

Abstract

ABSTRACTAnaplasmaspecies are obligate intracellular rickettsial pathogens that impact the health of humans and animals. Few studies have been carried out onAnaplasmainfections in central and southern China. This study was conducted to determine the coinfection rates ofAnaplasma ovis,A. bovis, andA. phagocytophilumfrom 262 field blood samples of goats in these regions. The average prevalences of single infection ofA. ovis,A. bovis, andA. phagocytophilumwere 15.3, 16.0, and 6.1%, respectively. Coinfection ofA. ovisandA. boviswas dominant, with an infection rate of 27.1%. Coinfection ofA. ovisandA. phagocytophilumwas 1.9% and that ofA. bovisandA. phagocytophilumwas 4.2%. Three-pathogen coinfection was found in three of four investigated provinces with a prevalence between 0 and 5.3%. The accuracy of the PCR results was corroborated by sequencing. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences ofA. bovisandA. phagocytophilumconfirmed the presence of these pathogens at the investigated sites and indicated the possible genetic diversity ofA. phagocytophilum. Field blood inoculation of experimental animals led to successful identification and observation of the morphological shapes ofA. bovisin the infected monocytes of sheep. Phylogenetic study withmsp4sequences ofA. ovisindicated that theA. ovisgenotypes from sheep in the north differed from the genotypes of goats in the investigated sites.