Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Anaplasma ovis–Emerging Pathogens in the German Sheep Population

Bauer, B.; Răileanu, Cristian; Tauchmann, Oliver; Fischer, Susanne; Ambros, Christina; Silaghi, Cornelia; Ganter, Martin

doi:10.3390/pathogens10101298

Cited by 14 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 95 publications

(162 reference statements)

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“…In Italy, [ 21 ] a high occurrence of mixed infection with A. phagocytophilum and A. ovis was detected in a sheep flock with health issues. Similar results were recorded in Slovakia [ 54 ], Turkey [ 24 ], Germany [ 55 ], and China [ 56 ]. A description of the coinfection of small ruminants in Tunisia with more than one pathogen has already been reported [ 30 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

First Molecular Evidence for the Presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Naturally Infected Small Ruminants in Tunisia, and Confirmation of Anaplasma ovis Endemicity

et al. 2022

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Anaplasma species are obligate intracellular rickettsial vector-borne pathogens that impose economic constraints on animal breeders and threaten human health. Anaplasma ovis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum infect sheep and goats worldwide. A duplex PCR targeting the msp2 and msp4 genes of A. phagocytophilum and A. ovis, respectively, was developed to analyze the field blood samples collected from sheep and goats. A total of 263 apparently healthy small ruminants from 16 randomly selected flocks situated in 3 bioclimatic zones in Tunisia were analyzed for Anaplasma infections. Anaplasma spp. was detected in 78.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 72.8–83.1) of the analyzed animals. The prevalence of A. ovis in sheep (80.4%) and goats (70.3%) was higher than that of A. phagocytophilum (7.0% in sheep and 1.6% in goats). Using an inexpensive, specific, and rapid duplex PCR assay, we provide, to the best of our knowledge, the first molecular evidence for the presence of A. phagocytophilum in small ruminants in Tunisia. A. phagocytophilum generally presented as a co-infection with A. ovis. This study provides important data to understand the epidemiology of anaplasmosis in small ruminants, and highlights the risk of contracting the infection upon tick exposure.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

First Molecular Evidence for the Presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Naturally Infected Small Ruminants in Tunisia, and Confirmation of Anaplasma ovis Endemicity

et al. 2022

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“…Anaplasma ovis infection in sheep is usually subclinical and mostly manifested as hemolytic anemia ( Dahmani et al, 2019 ). Other main clinical manifestations include extreme weakness, anorexia, and weight loss, but these manifestations mostly occur under poor health conditions ( Bauer et al, 2021 ). In 2010, a human anaplasmosis case caused by an A. ovis variant was reported in Cyprus, with clinical symptoms of fever, hepatosplenomegaly, and enlarged lymph nodes ( Chochlakis et al, 2010 ), providing evidence that A. ovis might be a potential zoonotic pathogen that may occasionally infect humans.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High diversity of Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma spp., and Ehrlichia spp. in ticks from Yunnan Province, Southwest China

Tian²,

Wang³

et al. 2022

Front. Microbiol.

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Rickettsia, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia belonging to the order Rickettsiales are causative agents of tick-borne diseases in humans. During 2021, 434 ticks including Rhipicephalus microplus and R. haemaphysaloides were collected from three sampling sites in Yunnan Province, Southwest China, and analyzed for the presence of these bacteria. Nine bacterial species were identified, including two Rickettsia spp., three Anaplasma spp., and four Ehrlichia spp., some of which are potential human pathogens. Genetic and phylogenetic analysis on 16S rRNA, gltA, groEL, ompA, ompB, and sca4 genes indicated the presence of a novel spotted fever group Rickettsia (SFGR) named “Candidatus Rickettsia shennongii” in six of the 38 R. haemaphysaloides ticks from two locations, Dehong Autonomous Prefecture and Honghe City. Another SFGR species, Candidatus Rickettsia jingxinensis was detected in ticks from all three sites, with an overall positive rate of 62.67%. Three other human pathogenic species, Anaplasma ovis (1.38%, 6/434), Ehrlichia canis (16.36%, 71/434), and E. chaffeensis (0.23%, 1/434) were detected in these ticks and characterized. Moreover, Ehrlichia sp. (4.84%, 21/434), E. minasensis (7.37%, 32/434), A. marginale (6.91%, 30/434), and Cadidatus Anaplasma boleense (1.15%, 5/434) were detected in R. microplus ticks, for which pathogenicity to humans remains to be determined. The results reveal the remarkable diversity of Rickettsiales bacteria in ticks from Yunnan Province, Southwest China. The high infection rate of some human pathogenic bacteria in ticks may indicate potential infection risk in humans, and it highlights the need for surveillance in local populations.

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“…The intracellular bacteria Coxiella burnetii, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Anaplasma ovis , and the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV, Flaviviridae ) are tick-transmitted pathogens and circulate in sheep flocks in the southern German federal states, Baden-Wuerttemberg (BW) and Bavaria (BAV) [ 1 – 3 ]. These pathogens also have a zoonotic potential and can cause illness in humans, such as flu-like symptoms and neurological disorders [ 4 – 7 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Co-exposure to Anaplasma spp., Coxiella burnetii and tick-borne encephalitis virus in sheep in southern Germany

et al. 2023

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The intracellular bacteria Anaplasma spp. and Coxiella burnetii and the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) are tick-transmitted pathogens circulating in the southern German sheep population. Knowledge of interaction among Anaplasma spp., C. burnetii and TBEV in sheep is lacking, but together they might promote and reinforce disease progression. The current study aimed to identify co-exposure of sheep to Anaplasma spp., C. burnetii and TBEV. For this purpose, 1,406 serum samples from 36 sheep flocks located in both southern German federal states, Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria, were analysed by ELISAs to determine the antibody levels of the three pathogens. Inconclusive and positive results from the TBEV ELISA were additionally confirmed by a serum neutralisation assay. The proportion of sheep with antibodies against Anaplasma spp. (47.2%), C. burnetii (3.7%) and TBEV (4.7%) differed significantly. Significantly more flocks with Anaplasma spp. seropositive sheep (91.7%) were detected than flocks with antibodies against TBEV (58.3%) and C. burnetii (41.7%), but there was no significant difference between the number of flocks which contained TBEV and C. burnetii seropositive sheep. Seropositivity against at least two pathogens was detected in 4.7% of sheep from 20 flocks. Most co-exposed sheep had antibodies against Anaplasma spp./TBEV (n = 36), followed by Anaplasma spp./C. burnetii (n = 27) and Anaplasma spp./C. burnetii/TBEV (n = 2). Only one sheep showed an immune response against C. burnetii and TBEV. Flocks with sheep being positive against more than one pathogen were widely distributed throughout southern Germany. The descriptive analysis revealed no association between the antibody response of the three pathogens at animal level. Taking the flocks as a cluster variable into account, the exposure to TBEV reduced the probability of identifying C. burnetii antibodies in sheep significantly (odds ratio 0.46; 95% confidence interval 0.24–0.85), but the reason for this is unknown. The presence of Anaplasma spp. antibodies did not influence the detection of antibodies against C. burnetii and TBEV. Studies under controlled conditions are necessary to evaluate any possible adverse impact of co-exposure to tick-borne pathogens on sheep health. This can help to clarify rare disease patterns. Research in this field may also support the One Health approach due to the zoonotic potential of Anaplasma spp., C. burnetii and TBEV.

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Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Anaplasma ovis–Emerging Pathogens in the German Sheep Population

Cited by 14 publications

References 95 publications

First Molecular Evidence for the Presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Naturally Infected Small Ruminants in Tunisia, and Confirmation of Anaplasma ovis Endemicity

First Molecular Evidence for the Presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Naturally Infected Small Ruminants in Tunisia, and Confirmation of Anaplasma ovis Endemicity

High diversity of Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma spp., and Ehrlichia spp. in ticks from Yunnan Province, Southwest China

Co-exposure to Anaplasma spp., Coxiella burnetii and tick-borne encephalitis virus in sheep in southern Germany

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