Mengmeng JIANG, Yan LI, Shichen XIE, Shengzhong XIAO, Yanhong ZHANG, Yan YANG, Yuanzhi WANG, Jinliang SHENG

Anaplasma ovis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum Infection in Sheep and Wild Rodents from Northern Xinjiang, Northwest China

The zoonotic rickettsial pathogen Anaplasma species have a broad geographical distribution and are important intracellular agents. Domestic animals and wild rodents may play an important role in the epidemiology of this disease. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of infection with Anaplasma species among domestic animals and wild rodents in northern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), Northwest China, during 2015-2016. In this study, DNA from Anaplasma ovis was detected by nested PCR in blood samples from 21/137 sheep (15.3%) in Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture (Ili), 18/79 sheep (22.8%) in Bole Mongol Autonomous Prefecture (Bole) and 13/71 sheep (18.3%) in Shihezi City. In addition, detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum DNA in spleen samples from great gerbils (Rhombomys opimus) in Urumqi (37/356, 10.4%) and Bole (21/134, 15.7%). Interestingly, co-infection A. ovis and A. phagocytophilum in blood of sheep (9/137, 6.7%) from Ili, northern XUAR. Based on 16S rRNA sequence, phylogenetic analyses showed that A. ovis were separated into one clade, while the A. phagocytophilum was separated into another clade. This analysis demonstrated that there are at least two different Anaplasma species widespread. The present investigation revealed high infection rates of A. phagocytophilum and A. ovis, which shed light on making effective measures to prevent and control Anaplasma species infection in animals in XUAR, Northwest China.

Kuzeybatı Çin ve Kuzey Sincan’da Koyun ve Yabani Kemirgenlerde Anaplasma ovis ve Anaplasma phagocytophilum Enfeksiyonu

Zoonotik rickettsial patojen olan Anaplasma türleri geniş bir coğrafi dağılıma sahiptir ve önemli hücre içi ajanlardır. Evcil hayvanlar ve vahşi kemirgenler bu hastalığın epidemiyolojisinde önemli rol oynarlar. Bu çalışmanın amacı, 2015-2016 yıllarında Kuzey Sincan Uygur Özerk Bölgesinde (XUAR), evcil hayvanlar ve vahşi kemirgenler arasında Anaplasma türleriyle enfeksiyon prevalansının tespitidir. Bu çalışmada, Ili Kazak Özerk Bölgesi’nde (Ili) 21/137 koyun (%15.3), Bole Mongol Özerk Bölgesi’nde (Bole) 18/79 koyun (%22.8) ve Shihezi Şehrinde 13/71 koyun (%18.3) kan örneğinde yuvalanmış PCR yöntemi ile Anaplazma ovis DNA’sı tespit edildi. Ek olarak, Urumçi’deki (37/356, %10.4) ve Bole’deki (21/134, %15.7) büyük rodentlerin (Rhombomys opimus) dalak örneklerinde Anaplasma phagocytophilum DNA’sı belirlendi. İlginç biçimde, Ili, kuzey XUAR’dan alınan koyunların kanında (9/137, %6.7) A. ovis ve A. phagocytophilum ile eş zamanlı enfeksiyon mevcuttu. 16S rRNA sekansına dayanarak yapılan filogenetik analizler, A. ovis’in bir kola ayrıldığını, A. phagocytophilum’un ise başka bir kola ayrıldığını gösterdi. Bu analiz bu bölgelerde en az iki farklı Anaplasma türünün yaygın olduğunu göstermiştir. Mevcut araştırma, XUAR, Kuzeybatı Çin’deki hayvanlarda A. phagocytophilum ve A. ovis enfeksiyon oranlarının yüksek olduğunu ve Anaplasma türlerinin enfeksiyonunu önlemek ve kontrol altına almak için etkili önlemler alınmasının gerekliliğini ortaya koydu.

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