Molecular Detection of Novel Genetic Variants Associated to Anaplasma Ovis Among Dromedary Camels in Iran

Document Type : Original Articles

Author

Department of Veterinary Group of Animal Science Research, Isfahan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Organization, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

To the best of our knowledge, little information is available regarding the presence of Anaplasma species in camels in Iran. This study sought to investigate the presence of Anaplasma species by microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays in 100 healthy dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius) arriving for slaughter. The microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained blood films revealed that Anaplasma like structures could be identified in the erythrocytes of two blood smears. To confirm the presence of and to identify the species of Anaplasma spp., a PCR technique was performed using primers amplifying a 750 bp fragment of the 16S rRNA gene of Anaplasma and the PCR products were analyzed by sequencing. The nucleotide sequence was compared to the sequences available in GenBank using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST). According to the results, the sequences of two 16S rRNA PCR products clearly fit within the Anaplasma genus in the family Anaplas mataceae. In this study, phylogenetic analysis using the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that two sequences obtained from monophyletic clusters included Anaplasma ovis (A. ovis). The obtained sequences had 99.6-100% similarity with previously published 16S rRNA gene sequences. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of novel genetic variants associated to A. ovis in dromedaries in the world. Further studies are recommended to establish the vector(s), as well as the veterinary and medical significance of these apparently novel variants in Iran.To the best of our knowledge, little information is available regarding the presence of Anaplasma species in camels in Iran. This study sought to investigate the presence of Anaplasma species by microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays in 100 healthy dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius) arriving for slaughter. The microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained blood films revealed that Anaplasma like structures could be identified in the erythrocytes of two blood smears. To confirm the presence of and to identify the species of Anaplasma spp., a PCR technique was performed using primers amplifying a 750 bp fragment of the 16S rRNA gene of Anaplasma and the PCR products were analyzed by sequencing. The nucleotide sequence was compared to the sequences available in GenBank using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST). According to the results, the sequences of two 16S rRNA PCR products clearly fit within the Anaplasma genus in the family Anaplas mataceae. In this study, phylogenetic analysis using the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that two sequences obtained from monophyletic clusters included Anaplasma ovis (A. ovis). The obtained sequences had 99.6-100% similarity with previously published 16S rRNA gene sequences. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of novel genetic variants associated to A. ovis in dromedaries in the world. Further studies are recommended to establish the vector(s), as well as the veterinary and medical significance of these apparently novel variants in Iran.

Keywords

Main Subjects


Article Title [French]

Détection moléculaire de nouvelles variantes génétiques associées à Anaplasma ovis chez les dromadaires iraniens (Camelus dromedarius)

Abstract [French]

Peu d'informations sont disponibles concernant la prévalence des infections anaplas miques chez les Camélidés iraniens. Une centaine de dromadaires (Camelus dromedarius) sains, arrivant à l'abattoir pour y être abattus, ont été examinés par microscopie et par des tests de réaction en chaîne de la polymérase (PCR) afin de détecter des contaminations anaplasmiques éventuelles. L'observation microscopique des frottis de sang périphérique colorés au Giemsa a révélé la présence de structures analogues à l’Anaplasma dans deux pourcent des échantillons sanguins. Afin de confirmer ces résultats et d’identifier les espèces d'Anaplasma impliquées, une technique de PCR a été mise au point en utilisant des amorces amplifiant un fragment de 750 pb du gène de l'ARNr 16S de l’Anaplasma. Les produits de cette PCR ont été ensuite analysés par séquençage. La séquence nucléotidique obtenue a été comparée aux séquences disponibles dans GenBank en utilisant le programme BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool). Ces analyses ont démontré que les séquences de deux produits de PCR ARNr 16S correspondent au genre Anaplasma appartenant à la famille des Anaplas mataceaes. L'analyse phylogénétique utilisant les séquences du gène de l'ARNr 16S classait les deux séquences obtenues dans cette étude dans des groupes monophylétiques comprenant A. ovis. Les résultats ont indiqué une similitude de 100 à 99,6% avec les séquences publiées du gène de l'ARNr 16S d'A. ovis. La présente étude rapporte la présence de nouvelles variantes génétiques associées à A. ovis chez les dromadaires dans le monde. Des recherches supplémentaires sont nécessaires afin d’identifier le ou les vecteur(s) de cette maladie, ainsi que l’impact de ces nouvelles variantes identifiées en Iran aux niveaux vétérinaire, médical et sanitaire.

Keywords [French]

  • Anaplasma ovis
  • dromadaire
  • identification moléculaire
  • gène de l'ARNr 16S
  • Iran
Bastos, A.D., Mohammed, O.B., Bennett, N.C., Petevinos, C., Alagaili, A.N., 2015. Molecular detection of novel Anaplasmataceae closely related to Anaplasma platys and Ehrlichia canis in the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius). Vet Microbiol 179, 310-314.
Belkahia, H., Ben Said, M., Sayahi, L., Alberti, A., Messadi, L., 2015. Detection of novel strains genetically related to Anaplasma platys in Tunisian one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius). J Infect Dev Ctries 9, 1117-1125.
Ben Said, M., Belkahia, H., Sayahi, L., Aloui, M., Jemli, M.H., Hadj Mohamed, B., et al., 2014. [First serological study of the prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) in Tunisia]. Bull Soc Pathol Exot 107, 1-6.
Chochlakis, D., Ioannou, I., Tselentis, Y., Psaroulaki, A., 2010. Human anaplasmosis and Anaplasma ovis variant. Emerg Infect Dis 16, 1031-1032.
Dumler, J.S., Barbet, A.F., Bekker, C.P., Dasch, G.A., Palmer, G.H., Ray, S.C., et al., 2001. Reorganization of genera in the families Rickettsiaceae and Anaplasmataceae in the order Rickettsiales: unification of some species of Ehrlichia with Anaplasma, Cowdria with Ehrlichia and Ehrlichia with Neorickettsia, descriptions of six new species combinations and designation of Ehrlichia equi and 'HGE agent' as subjective synonyms of Ehrlichia phagocytophila. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 51, 2145-2165.
Ghafar, M.W., Shobrak, M.Y., 2014. Molecular detection and characterization of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the causative agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis, in some animals suspected to be competent reservoirs in Taif district, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Life Sci J 11, 63-69.
Kocan, K.M., De La Fuente, J., Blouin, E.F., Garcia-Garcia, J.C., 2005. Anaplasma marginale (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae): recent advances in defining host–pathogen adaptations of a tick-borne rickettsia. Parasitology 129, S285-S300.
Lew, A.E., Gale, K.R., Minchin, C.M., Shkap, V., Theo de Waal, D., 2003. Phylogenetic analysis of the erythrocytic Anaplasma species based on 16S rDNA and GroEL (HSP60) sequences of A. marginale, A. centrale, and A. ovis and the specific detection of A. centrale vaccine strain. Vet Microbiol 92, 145-160.
Li, Y., Yang, J., Chen, Z., Qin, G., Li, Y., Li, Q., et al., 2015. Anaplasma infection of Bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus) and ticks in Xinjiang, China. Parasit Vectors 8, 313.
Noaman, V., 2013. Discrimination between Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma ovis by PCR-RFLP. World Appl Sci J 21, 190-195.
Noaman, V., Shayan, P., 2009. Molecular detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in carrier cattle of Iran-first documented report. Iran J Microbiol 1, 37-42.
Noaman, V., Shayan, P., 2010a. Comparison of Microscopy and PCR-RFLP for detection of Anaplasma marginale in carrier cattle. Iran J Microbiol 2, 89-94.
Noaman, V., Shayan, P., 2010b. Molecular detection of Anaplasma bovis in cattle from central part of Iran. Vet Res Forum 1, 117-122.
Noaman, V., Shayan, P., 2010c. A new PCR-RFLP method for detection of Anaplasma marginale based on 16S rRNA. Vet Res Commun 34, 43-50.
Noaman, V., Shayan, P., Amininia, N., 2009a. Molecular diagnostic of Anaplasma marginale in carrier cattle. 4 1.
Noaman, V., Shayan, P., Shahmoradi, A.H., 2009b. Detection of Anaplasma ovis based on 16S rRNA gene by PCR-RFLP in sheep from central part of Iran. J Vet Med Lab 1, 27-37.
Parola, P., Roux, V., Camicas, J.-L., Baradji, I., Brouqui, P., Raoult, D., 2000. Detection of ehrlichiae in African ticks by polymerase chain reaction. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 94, 707-708.
Renneker, S., Abdo, J., Salih, D.E., Karagenc, T., Bilgic, H., Torina, A., et al., 2013. Can Anaplasma ovis in small ruminants be neglected any longer? Transbound Emerg Dis 60 Suppl 2, 105-112.
Schwartz, H.J., 1992. Productive performance and productivity of dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius). Anim Res Dev 35, 86-98.
Sudan, V., Sharma, R.L., Borah, M.K., 2014. Subclinical anaplasmosis in camel (Camelus dromedarius) and its successful therapeutic management. J Parasit Dis 38, 163-165.
Tamura, K., Peterson, D., Peterson, N., Stecher, G., Nei, M., Kumar, S., 2011. MEGA5: molecular evolutionary genetics analysis using maximum likelihood, evolutionary distance, and maximum parsimony methods. Mol Biol Evol 28, 2731-2739.
Torina, A., Galindo, R.C., Vicente, J., Di Marco, V., Russo, M., Aronica, V., et al., 2010. Characterization of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and A. ovis infection in a naturally infected sheep flock with poor health condition. Trop Anim Health Prod 42, 1327-1331.
Wernery, U., Kinne, J., Schuster, R.K., 2014. Camelid infectious disorders. In: Health, O.W.O.f.A. (Ed.).