Molecular characterization of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia in ixodid ticks and reservoir hosts from Palestine: a pilot survey. Issue 2 (14th February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zaid, Taher; Ereqat, Suheir; Nasereddin, Abdelmajeed; Al‐Jawabreh, Amer; Abdelkader, Ahmad; Abdeen, Ziad
• Is Part Of: Veterinary medicine and science. Volume 5:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 230
• Page End: 242
• Publication Date: 2019-02-14
• Subjects: Anaplasma -- dogs -- Ehrlichia -- Ixodid ticks -- Palestine -- sheep; Veterinary medicine -- Periodicals; Animal Diseases; Veterinary medicine; Periodicals; Periodicals; 636.08905
• DOI: 10.1002/vms3.150
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2053-1095

Abstract

Abstract: Tick‐borne anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis are clinically important emerging zoonoses usually overlooked by veterinarians and physicians alike. This study aimed at detecting and genetically characterizing Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species in ixodid ticks and their animal hosts from the West Bank, Palestine. A total of 723 ixodid ticks belonging to three genera ( Rhipicephalus, Hyalomma, Haemaphysalis ) were collected from dogs, sheep, goats and camels. In addition, 189 blood samples were collected from dogs, sheep, camels, horses and a goat from the West Bank, Palestine. All tick and blood samples were investigated for the presence of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia targeting a 345 bp fragment of the 16S rRNA gene followed by sequence analysis. The infection rate of Anaplasma spp. in ticks was 6.5% (47/723). Anaplasma platys was identified in 28% (13/47) of them. Whereas, based on a partial sequence (851 bp) of msp4 gene, 38% (18/47) were identified as A. ovis . The species of the remaining 16 positive samples (16/47, 34%) could not be identified. Simultaneously, the infection rate of Ehrlichia spp. in the ticks was 0.6% (4/723). Three of which were E. canis and one was Ehrlichia spp. The infection rate of A. platys in dogs' blood samples was 10% (13/135), while it was 1.5% (2/135) for E. canis . The infection rate of Anaplasma in sheep blood samples was 40% (19/47), out of which 26% (5/19) were caused by A. ovis as revealed by msp4 ‐PCR. Implementation of purely‐spatial analysis by saTScan for all cases of Anaplasma revealed two statistically significant clusters in two districts; Tubas town and Majdal‐Bani‐Fadil village on the western hills of the Jordan Valley. Most cases of Anaplasma (83%) were from rural areas where life cycle components (vector, host and reservoir) abundantly interact. This study is the first in Palestine to reveal the presence of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia in ticks, dogs and sheep providing crucial platform for future epidemiological surveys and control strategies in the country and region. Abstract : This study was conducted to detect and genetically characterize Anaplasma and Ehrlichia pathogens in hard ticks and blood samples collected from domestic dogs, sheep and camels in the West Bank, Palestine. The results of this study highlight for the first time the presence of A. platys and E. canis infection in dogs originating from Palestine. A. ovis is also detected in sheep indicating a potential risk for adverse more aggravate disease.