A Novel Clinical Syndrome and Detection of Anaplasma Ovis in Mongolian Reindeer (Rangifer Tarandus)

Abstract

The Tsaatan (or Dhuka) peoples of northern-western Mongolia are one of the few remaining reindeer-herding cultural groups in the world. Recently a disease condition that involves sudden death of reindeer and cases involving fever, lethargy, and pale mucous membranes has been reported. Examination of blood smears collected in the 2005 field season resulted in the identification of intra-erythrocytic inclusions resembling Anaplasma spp. in smears from clinically sick animals. Using universal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers for the amplification of the 60 kDa chaperonin gene (cpn60, also known as hsp60 or groEL), we detected sequences corresponding to Anaplasma ovis in reindeer blood samples. Species-specific PCR primers for A. ovis were designed and validated and used to screen blood samples from Mongolian reindeer. Screening of 66 blood samples collected in the 2006 field season resulted in the detection of A. ovis in 80% of the samples. Our results indicate a high prevalence of A. ovis in the Tsaatan reindeer herds and an association with clinical disease that is likely to be anaplasmosis. To our knowledge this is the first report of natural A. ovis infection in reindeer.

Survey of Anaplasma Infections in Small Ruminants from East Part of Turkey

“…this study was planned to investigate the presence and frequency of A. phagocytophilum and A. ovis in sheep and goats from the provinces of East Anatolia Region (Bingol, Elazig, Malatya, Mus). We used species-specific PCRs to amplify 60 kDA chaperonin gene (cpn60 or hsp60) [17] and 16S SSU rRNA gene [16] of A. ovis and A. phagocytophilum, respectively. We confirmed specificity of the PCRs with sequences analysis.…”

“…Primers SSAP2f (5'-GCTGAATGT GGGGATAATTTAT -3') and SSAP2r (5'-ATGGCTGCTTCCTTT CGGTTA -3') are specific for A. phagocytophilum [16] ; JH0011 (5'-TAAAAGCCAAGGAGGCTGTG -3') and JH0012 (5'-TTGCTCTCCTCGACCGTTAT -3') are specific for A. ovis [17] . The PCRs were performed according to previously described methods [16,17] . Four positive PCR products, 2 for each species were purified from agarose gel using a commercial PCR purification kit (Wizard SV gel and PCR clean-up system, Promega, Madison, WI, USA).…”

European Network for Neglected Vectors and Vector-Borne Infections COST Action Guidelines: What Is This About and What Is This For?

“…Both experimental and field studies have pointed out the utility of molecular laboratory diagnosis for sensitive and specific identification of Anaplasma infections (Eriks et al 1989, Palmer et al 1998, Eddlestone et al 2007, Haigh et al 2008, Hing et al 2014. The growing number of highperformance molecular protocols with increased potential for automation and multiplex detection has resulted in these becoming indispensable laboratory tools.…”

Anaplasma species of veterinary importance in Japan

“…All of these species have been reported in Japan except for A. ovis , which is an intraerythrocytic bacteria that may infect goats, sheep [4], and cattle [5]. A. ovis has been reported in wildlife, including reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus ) [6] and European roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ) [3] in other countries. As Japan has an increasing deer population, it may be worthwhile to attempt to specifically detect this pathogen because it can be pathogenic in the deer species [5,6].…”