Molecular detection and characterization of Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains in ixodidae ticks and reservoir host

Abstract

Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an obligate intracellular bacterium, which has a broad geographic distribution and the high degree of biological and clinical diversity. To investigate genetic diversity of A. phagocytophilum strains in Ixodidae ticks and a reservoir host were used three genes of pathogen genome were analyzed. Characterization of A. phagocytopilum strains were performed of partial 16S rRNA and major surface protein (msp4, msp2) genes. Nested PCR and sequence analysis were detected strains were compared with those originating from other European countries. In total were examined 66 pulls the ticks removed from migratory birds, 20 pulls the ticks from rodents, 53 spleens of rodents, 52 questing Ixodidae ticks in the areas of cervine animals, 41 spleens and 14 blood samples of cervine animals for infection. Two msp4 gene variants and a single 16S rRNA gene variant of A. phagocytophilum were found. The present study represents the first molecular characterization of A. phagocytophilum strains circulating in vectors and host of A. phagocytophilum in Lithuania.