Anaplasma spp. in dogs and owners in north-western Morocco

Abstract

Background Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an emerging tick-borne zoonotic pathogen of increased interest worldwide which has been detected in northern Africa. Anaplasma platys is also present in this region and could possibly have a zoonotic potential. However, only one recent article reports on the human esposure to A. phagocytophilum in Morocco and no data are available on canine exposure to both bacteria. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional epidemiological study aiming to assess both canine and human exposure to Anaplasma spp. in Morocco. A total of 425 dogs (95 urban, 160 rural and 175 working dogs) and 11 dog owners were sampled from four cities of Morocco. Canine blood samples were screened for Anaplasma spp. antibodies by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and for A. phagocytophilum and A. platys DNA by a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) targeting the msp2 gene. Human sera were tested for specific A. phagocytophilum immunoglobulin G (IgG) using a commercial immunofluorescence assay (IFA) kit.Results Anaplasma spp. antibodies and A. platys DNA were detected in 21.9 and 7.5% of the dogs, respectively. Anaplasma phagocytophilum DNA was not amplified. Anaplasma platys DNA was significantly more frequently amplified for working dogs. No statistically significant differences in the prevalence of Anaplasma spp. antibodies or A. platys DNA detection were observed between sexes, age classes or in relation to exposure to ticks. A total of 348 Rhipicephalus sanguineus (sensu lato) ticks were removed from 35 urban and working dogs. The majority of dog owners (7/10) were seroreactive to A. phagoyctophilum IgG (one sample was excluded because of hemolysis).ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the occurrence of Anaplasma spp. exposure and A. platys infection in dogs, and A. phagocytophilum exposure in humans in Morocco.

Epidemiological and Comparative Diagnostic Study of Anaplasma Spp. Infection in Goats from North-Eastern Algeria

“…No statistically significant differences were found in the prevalence of Anaplasma spp. in animals or humans exposed or not to ticks [28,29]; the same results were found in the current study. According to A i t L b a c h a et al [57], and lower than that estimated in Angola (100 %) [34],…”

Molecular detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum DNA in Olive Baboons and Vervet monkeys in Kenya

“…Previous studies have reported genetic relatedness between A. phagocytophilum infecting animals and humans [15,35]. Similarly, in this study isolates from Olive baboons appear to be genetically related to those of human (MF582329.1) (Figure 3).…”

“…This can be explained by the high variability of p44 gene, which includes intra-species variability, with consequent protein polymorphism and the generation of antigenic variations [33,34]. The 16S rRNA gene yielded positive bands and therefore reinforced that it is a good marker for detection of Anaplasma as reported by other studies [20,27,35].…”

“…The emergence of Anaplasmataceae as human pathogens has gained the attention of scientific community. A recent surveys have shown human infection with anaplasmosis including in Venezuela [15] and one in Morocco where dog owners were infected with A. phagocytophilum [16].…”

Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Other Anaplasma spp. in Various Hosts in the Mnisi Community, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

“…This was confirmed by sequence analysis of 16S rRNA (humans, dogs and rodents) and gltA (dogs and rodents) genes. Reports of human granulocytic anaplasmosis occurring in Africa have been few [ 57 , 58 ]. In South Africa, there have been no reported A. phagocytophilum infections in humans.…”