PCR Detection and Serological Evidence of Granulocytic Ehrlichial Infection in Roe Deer ( Capreolus capreolus ) and Chamois ( Rupicapra rupicapra )

Abstract

The role of wild mammals, such as roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), in the epidemiology of granulocytic ehrlichiae in Switzerland was investigated. We tested blood samples for Ehrlichia phagocytophila genogroup 16S rRNA gene sequences by PCR and for immunoglobulin G antibodies against granulocytic ehrlichiae by indirect fluorescent-antibody assay (IFA). Overall means of 60.9% of 133 roe deer serum samples and 28.2% of 39 chamois serum samples were seroreactive by IFA. PCR results were positive for 18.4% of 103 roe deer serum samples as well. None of the 24 chamois blood samples tested were positive by PCR. Partial 16S rRNA gene and groESL heat shock operon sequences of three roe deer samples tested showed strong degrees of homology (>99.7 and >98.6%, respectively) with the sequences of granulocytic ehrlichiae isolated from humans. These results confirm that chamois, and particularly roe deer, are commonly infected with granulocytic ehrlichiae and provide evidence that these wild mammals are potential reservoirs for granulocytic ehrlichiae in Switzerland.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum and other tick-borne bacteria in wild animals in western Slovakia

“…Prevalence of A. phagocytophilum in roe deer was statistically similar (chi-square test) to that detected in our previous study performed on samples from central Slovakia in years 2004-2006 (Štefanidesová et al 2008). Prevalences of this bacterium in European countries varies between 12-86% in roe deer and between 13-88% in red deer (Alberdi et al 2000;Liz et al 2002;Petrovec et al 2002Petrovec et al , 2003Polin et al 2004;Hulinska et al 2004;Skarphedinsson et al 2005). Estimated prevalences in our studies from central and western Slovakia belong to these intervals.…”

PCR detection of re-emerging tick-borne pathogen, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, in deer ked (Lipoptena cervi) a blood-sucking ectoparasite of cervids

“…) and in wide range of animals worldwide (e.g., Stuen et al 2003;Stuen et al 2007;Woldehiwet et al 2006). In Europe, red deer (Cervus elaphus) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) are considered as persistently infected with A. phagocytophilum and serve as the source of infection in natural foci (Liz et al 2002;Petrovec et al 2002;Polin et al 2004;Smetanová et al 2006;de la Fuente et al 2008;Štefanidesová et al 2008, etc.). Biological transmission of A. phagocytophilum is performed by the ticks from Ixodes ricinus complex.…”

Serological and molecular detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in horses reared in Korea

“…DNA was extracted from whole blood using the DNeasy ® Blood & Tissue Kit (Qiagen, Germany) according to the manufacturer's instructions. To amplify the 16S rRNA gene of A. phagocytophilum, two different nested PCRs (nPCR) were performed using the EE1/EE2 and EE3/EE4 primers, which amplify a 928-bp fragment (Barlough et al 1996), and ge3a/ge10r and ge9f/ge2, which amplify a 546-bp fragment (Liz et al 2002). For each nPCR analysis, A. phagocytophilum DNA isolated from dog blood was included as a positive control.…”