Anaplasma odocoilei sp. nov. (family Anaplasmataceae) from white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Abstract

Recently, an undescribed Anaplasma sp. (also called Ehrlichia-like sp. or WTD agent) was isolated in ISE6 tick cells from captive white-tailed deer. The goal of the current study was to characterize this organism using a combination of experimental infection, morphologic, serologic, and molecular studies. Each of 6 experimentally inoculated white-tailed deer fawns (Odocoileus virginianus) became chronically infected (100+ days) with the Anaplasma sp. by inoculation of either infected whole blood or culture. None of the deer showed evidence of clinical disease, but 3 of the 6 deer evaluated had multiple episodes of transient thrombocytopenia. Light microscopy of Giemsa-stained, thin blood smears revealed tiny, dark, spherical structures in platelets of acutely infected deer. Anaplasma sp. was detected in platelets of inoculated deer by polymerase chain reaction, transmission electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization. Five of 6 deer developed antibodies reactive to Anaplasma sp. antigen, as detected by indirect fluorescent antibody testing. Phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA, groESL, and gltA sequences confirmed the Anaplasma sp. is related to A. platys. Two attempts to transmit the Anaplasma sp. between deer by feeding Amblyomma americanum, a suspected tick vector, were unsuccessful. Based on its biologic, antigenic, and genetic characteristics, this organism is considered a novel species of Anaplasma, and the name Anaplasma odocoilei sp. nov. is proposed with UMUM76T (=CSUR-A1) as the type strain.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum in sheep and goats in central and southeastern China

“…In addition to the above mentioned species, a novel Anaplasma species designated “ Anaplasma capra ” has been identified in goats, ticks and humans in northern China [28]. In addition to well-characterized Anaplasma species, a number of new Anaplasma genetic variants have been identified increasingly in ticks and vertebrates using molecular techniques, especially in wildlife [7, 17, 29, 30]. In this study, a potential novel Anaplasma species was identified in goat.…”

A survey of tick‐borne pathogens in dogs and their ticks in the Pantanal biome, Brazil

“…This novel agent was previously reported to infect white‐tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) in the southeastern U.S.A. and is genetically related to An. platys found in dogs, including in platelet tropism (Tate et al ., ); its main vector in North America remains undefined and has not been detected in free‐living ticks. There is great potential for the involvement of wildlife in the natural cycle of these new Anaplasma spp.…”

Molecular survey and characterization of a novel Anaplasma species closely related to Anaplasma capra in ticks, northwestern China

“…In addition to this species, other potential novel Anaplasma species or genetic variants have been reported on the basis of phylogenetic analysis of different gene loci in ticks and vertebrate hosts, particularly in wildlife, including Anaplasma odocoilei from white-tailed deer and “ Candidatus Cryptoplasma californiense” from Ixodes pacificus in USA, A. platys -like strains from cats in Italy, and novel Anaplasma sp. from sika deer in Japan and dromedary camels in Saudi Arabia [6–10]. …”