Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains from voles and shrews exhibit specific ankA gene sequences.
Authors: Majazki Juliana, Wüppenhorst Nicole, Hartelt Kathrin, Birtles Richard, von Loewenich Friederike D
Journal: BMC veterinary research
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Small Mammal Reservoirs Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the tick-borne bacterium responsible for granulocytic anaplasmosis in horses, dogs, and humans, maintains its transmission cycle through reservoir hosts since Ixodes ticks cannot pass the infection vertically to their offspring. Whilst large game species like deer and wild boar are well-recognised reservoirs in Europe, the role of small mammals (voles and shrews) in harbouring A. phagocytophilum strains had been poorly characterised until this investigation. Majazki and colleagues identified genetically distinct ankA gene sequences in A. phagocytophilum isolated from small mammals, demonstrating that these species carry different bacterial variants compared to those found in larger ungulates and carnivores. These findings suggest that small mammals represent a separate epidemiological compartment for the pathogen, potentially maintaining distinct strains that may differ in their pathogenic properties or transmissibility to equine and canine hosts. Understanding the full spectrum of reservoir hosts and their associated bacterial genotypes is crucial for assessing tick-borne disease risk in grazing environments and informing targeted surveillance strategies for equine anaplasmosis in endemic regions.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Understanding reservoir host diversity for A. phagocytophilum is important for assessing tick-borne disease transmission risk to horses and other domestic animals
- •Small mammals may represent a distinct epidemiological component in the maintenance and transmission of equine anaplasmosis in European populations
Key Findings
- •Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains isolated from voles and shrews display distinct ankA gene sequences different from those found in larger reservoir hosts
- •Small mammals in Europe harbor A. phagocytophilum variants that have not been extensively characterized prior to this study
- •ankA-based genotyping can differentiate A. phagocytophilum strains between small mammal and larger animal reservoir hosts