Evidence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia helvetica infection in free-ranging ungulates in central Slovakia

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of wild animals for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, other ehrlichiae/anaplasmae, Rickettsia helvetica and other rickettsiae and whether different genetic variants of A. phagocytophilum in central Slovakia exist. A total of 109 spleen samples from 49 red deer (Cervus elaphus), 30 roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), 28 wild boar (Sus scrofa) and two mouflon (Ovis musimon) were collected from June 2005 to December 2006. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the16S rRNA gene was used for detection of ehrlichiae/anaplasmae. A nested PCR targeting part (392 bp) of groESL gene was applied for the specific detection of A. phagocytophilum. Fragments of the gltA and ompA genes (381 bp and 632 bp, respectively) were amplified to detect rickettsiae, followed by sequencing. A. phagocytophilum and R. helvetica were detected in wild animals. The prevalence of A. phagocytophilum was 50.0± 18.2% in roe deer and 53.1±14.1% in red deer. None of the 28 wild boar was PCR positive for ehrlichiae/anaplasmae. A. phagocytophilum was detected in one mouflon. R. helvetica was found in one roe deer. Our study suggests a role of cervids as a natural reservoir of A. phagocytophilum in Slovakia. However, the role of cervids and wild boars in the circulation of R. helvetica remains unknown. The analysis of sequence variation in the msp4 coding region of A. phagocytophilum showed the presence of different variants previously described in ruminants.

Ixodid ticks of road-killed wildlife species in southern Italy: new tick-host associations and locality records

“…Indeed, because positivity to pathogens is not only affected by the area of sampling but also by the host species from which ticks were collected, negative PCR results of this study could be due to the fact that ticks were not collected from wild boars, small rodents, or birds, which may act as either reservoirs or carriers of Borrelia spirochetes (Comstedt et al 2006;Gern 2008;Humair 2002;Juricová and Hubálek 2009;Matuschka et al 1992;Matuschka et al 1996) as well as A. phagocytophilum (Stefanidesova et al 2007) and spotted fever group rickettsiae (Schex et al 2011;Stefanidesova et al 2007). Furthermore, considering the involvement of several of the tick species collected as vectors of pathogens of zoonotic concern (e.g., Babesia spp., Coxiella burnetii, tick-borne encephalitis and Crimean-Congo haemorragic fever viruses) (Gray et al 1991;Hoogstraal 1979;Rehácek et al 1991;Rizzoli et al 2004), targeting a broader range of bacterial, rickettsial, protozoal and viral zoonotic tick-borne pathogen genes would also be advisable for future studies.…”

Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and tick-transmitted bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum infections in one selected goat farm in Slovakia

“…The clinical symptoms are represented by sudden high fever, inappetence, lower production yield, weight loss and abortions in pregnant ewes (Scott et al 1991;Stuen 2007). In Slovakia, the presence of A. phagocytophilum was detected previously in ticks and wild living animals (Šte-fančíková et al 2008;Štefanidesová et al 2008;Víchová et al 2010). Recent study also confirmed its circulation in sheep flocks (Derdáková et al 2011).…”

Co-Infection and Genetic Diversity of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Roe Deer from Poland

“…The most common infection in the current study was A. phagocytophilum, with a prevalence of 37%. In Europe, it is believed that cervids are the main reservoir hosts of these bacteria, having been found commonly in roe deer in Spain (18%; de la Fuente et al 2008), Switzerland (18%; Liz et al 2002), Slovenia (85%; Petrovec et al 2002), Slovakia (50%; Stefanidesova et al 2008), and Austria (43%; Polin et al 2004). In Poland, prevalence of this species has been reported to range from 9% to 38% in different regions of the country (Adamska and Skotarczak 2007, Michalik et al 2009, Hapunik et al 2011).…”