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Molecular epidemiology of human and bovine anaplasmosis in southern Europe

Victoria Naranjo1, Francisco Ruiz-Fons, Ursula Höfle

  • 1Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA.

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|November 23, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma phagocytophilum impact animal and human health in Southern Europe. This study identified cattle and deer as key reservoirs, with ticks and tabanids as vectors, highlighting complex disease epidemiology.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Parasitology

Background:

  • The genus Anaplasma comprises significant pathogens affecting both animal and human health.
  • Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma phagocytophilum are of particular concern in veterinary and public health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma phagocytophilum infections in Southern Europe.
  • To investigate the epidemiology and transmission dynamics of these pathogens in various hosts and vectors.

Main Methods:

  • Serological studies, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and sequence analysis of major surface protein genes (msp) and 16S rDNA were employed.
  • Samples were collected from humans, domestic animals, wild animals, and ticks in Spain and Sicily.

Main Results:

  • Anaplasma marginale infections were found to be maintained in cattle and deer, with ticks and tabanids acting as vectors.
  • Anaplasma phagocytophilum infections, potentially affecting humans, were identified in cattle, donkeys, deer, and birds, with ticks as likely vectors.
  • Concurrent infections in cattle and deer suggest shared reservoir hosts and complex epidemiological patterns.

Conclusions:

  • The study elucidates the complex epidemiology of Anaplasma infections in Southern Europe.
  • Findings highlight the roles of different animal species and arthropods in the transmission cycles of Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma phagocytophilum.
  • Understanding these dynamics is crucial for managing bovine and human anaplasmosis in the region.

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