Korean J Parasitol.  2018 Dec;56(6):559-565. 10.3347/kjp.2018.56.6.559.

Molecular Detection and Phylogenetic Analysis of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Horses in Korea

Affiliations
  • 1College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea. dmkwak@knu.ac.kr
  • 2Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon 39660, Korea.
  • 3Mari Equine Clinic, Busan 46745, Korea.
  • 4Cardiovascular Research Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41944, Korea.

Abstract

The identification and characterization of pathogenic and zoonotic tick-borne diseases like granulocytic anaplasmosis are essential for developing effective control programs. The differential diagnosis of pathogenic Anaplasma phagocytophilum and non-pathogenic A. phagocytophilum-like Anaplasma spp. is important for implementing effective treatment from control programs. The objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of Anaplasma spp. in horses in Korea by nucleotide sequencing and restriction enzyme fragment length polymorphism assay. Of the 627 horses included in the study, only 1 (0.2%) was infected with A. phagocytophilum. Co-infection with A. phagocytophilumlike Anaplasma spp. was not detected in the study. The 16S rRNA sequence of A. phagocytophilum was similar (99.5-100%) to A. phagocytophilum 16S rRNA isolated from horses in other countries. PCR adapted to amplify A. phagocytophilum groEL and msp2 genes failed to generate amplicons, suggesting genetic diversity in these genes. This study is the first molecular detection of A. phagocytophilum in horses in Korea. Human granulocytic anaplasmosis and animal infection of A. phagocytophilum have been reported in Korea recently. Because of vector tick distribution, global warming, and the increase of the horse industry, horses should be considered as a potential reservoir for A. phagocytophilum, and cross infectivity should be evaluated even though a low prevalence of infection was detected in this study. Furthermore, continuous surveillance and effective control measures for A. phagocytophilum should be established to prevent disease distribution and possible transmission to humans.

Keyword

Anaplasma phagocytophilum; equine; granulocyte; phylogeny; restriction fragment length polymorphism

MeSH Terms

Anaplasma phagocytophilum*
Anaplasma*
Anaplasmosis
Animals
Coinfection
Diagnosis, Differential
Genetic Variation
Global Warming
Granulocytes
Horses*
Humans
Korea*
Phylogeny
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
Prevalence
Tick-Borne Diseases
Ticks
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