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  1. Metagenomic profile of the bacterial communities associated with Ixodes granulatus (Acari: Ixodidae): a potential vector of tick-borne diseases
    Che Lah EF, Ahamad M, Dmitry A, Md-Zain BM, Yaakop S
    J Med Entomol, 2023 Jul 12;60(4):753-768.
    PMID: 37075471 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad044
    Ixodes granulatus Supino, 1897 (Acari: Ixodida) is one of Malaysia's most common hard ticks and is a potential vector for tick-borne diseases (TBDs). Despite its great public health importance, research on I. granulatus microbial communities remains largely unexplored. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the bacterial communities of on-host I. granulatus collected from three different recreational areas on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia using high throughput Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). A total of 9 females on-host I. granulatus were subjected to metabarcoding analysis targeting V3-V4 regions of 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) using the Illumina MiSeq platform. This study identified 15 bacterial phyla corresponding to 19 classes, 54 orders, and 90 families from 435 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), revealing a diverse bacterial community profile. Together with 130 genera assigned, local I. granulatus harbored 4 genera of pathogens, i.e., Rickettsia da Rocha Lima, 1916 (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) (58.6%), Borrelia Swellengrebel 1907 (Spirochaetales: Borreliaceae) (31.6%), Borreliella Adeolu and Gupta 2015 (Spirochaetales: Borreliaceae) (0.6%), and Ehrlichia Cowdria Moshkovski 1947 (Rickettsiales: Ehrlichiaceae) (39.9%). Some endosymbiont bacteria, such as Coxiella (Philip, 1943) (Legionellales: Coxiellaceae), Wolbachia Hertig 1936 (Rickettsiales: Ehrlichiaceae), and Rickettsiella Philip, 1956 (Legionellales: Coxiellaceae), were also detected at very low abundance. Interestingly, this study reported the co-infection of Borrelia and Ehrlichia for the first time, instilling potential health concerns in the context of co-transmission to humans, especially in areas with a high population of I. granulatus. This study successfully characterized the tick microbiome and provided the first baseline data of I. granulatus bacterial communities in Malaysia. These results support the need for way-forward research on tick-associated bacteria using NGS, focusing on medically important species toward TBD prevention.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ehrlichia
  2. Adaptation of Ehrlichia sennetsu to canine blood monocytes: preliminary structural and serological studies with cell culture-derived Ehrlichia sennetsu
    Holland CJ, Ristic M, Huxsoll DL, Cole AI, Rapmund G
    Infect Immun, 1985 May;48(2):366-71.
    PMID: 2985504
    Ehrlichia sennetsu, the causative agent of human sennetsu rickettsiosis, was successfully propagated in primary canine blood monocyte cultures. The growth cycle of this organism appears to be similar to that of Ehrlichia canis. The antigen derived from our E. sennetsu cultures was used to develop an indirect fluorescent antibody test for detection and titration of serum antibodies to the organism. Using this test system, we found that five human serum samples obtained from patients clinically diagnosed as having sennetsu rickettsiosis were positive for anti-E. sennetsu antibodies. In addition, 29% of the serum samples obtained from 200 patients having a fever of unknown origin and residing in various regions of Malaysia were also serologically positive. All sera from apparently healthy individuals were negative in the test. Dogs inoculated with cell culture-adapted E. sennetsu developed a significant specific antibody titer to E. sennetsu, and the organism was subsequently isolated from their blood. These animals showed no clinical evidence of disease. The possibility of a higher prevalence of human sennetsu rickettsiosis in Southeast Asia and the potential usefulness of the canine model for studies of human sennetsu rickettsiosis are discussed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ehrlichia/cytology; Ehrlichia/growth & development*; Ehrlichia/immunology
  3. Characterization of the SF agent, an Ehrlichia sp. isolated from the fluke Stellantchasmus falcatus, by 16S rRNA base sequence, serological, and morphological analyses
    Wen B, Rikihisa Y, Yamamoto S, Kawabata N, Fuerst PA
    Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 1996 Jan;46(1):149-54.
    PMID: 8573488
    The organism designated the SF agent was originally isolated in Japan in 1962 from Stellantchasmus falcatus metacercaria parasitic on gray mullet fish. The SF agent resembles members of the genus Ehrlichia morphologically and exhibits weak antigenic cross-reactivity with Ehrlichia sennetsu. This organism causes mild clinical signs in dogs, but severe splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy in mice. This suggests that the SF agent may be similar to either Neorickettsia helminthoeca, an intracellular parasite of a fluke and the cause of salmon poisoning disease in dogs, or E. sennetsu, the causative agent of human sennetsu ehrlichiosis in Japan and Malaysia. In order to determine the phylogenetic relationship between the SF agent and other ehrlichial species, the 16S rRNA gene was amplified by the PCR and sequenced. The SF agent sequence was most closely related to the sequences of Ehrlichia risticii (level of sequence similarity, 99.1%), the causative agent of Potomac horse fever, and E. sennetsu (level of sequence similarity, 98.7%). The next most similar sequence was that of N. helminthoeca, but the level of sequence similarity was only 93.7%. E. sennetsu, E. risticii, the SF agent, and N. helminthoeca formed a distinct cluster that was separated from all other ehrlichial species. As determined by immunofluorescence labeling, antiserum against the SF agent cross-reacted strongly with E. sennetsu, E. risticii, and N. helminthoeca. When three genetically distinct ehrlichial isolates obtained from horses with Potomac horse fever were compared with the SF agent, we found that the SF agent was most closely related to Ohio isolate 081, followed by IllinoisT (T = type strain) and a Kentucky isolate. We observed strong antigenic cross-reactivities and similarities in Western blot (immunoblot) reaction profiles when we compared the SF agent, E. risticii, and E. sennetsu; however, weaker antigenic cross-reactivity was observed when the SF agent and N. helminthoeca were compared. Our results indicate that the SF agent is antigenically more closely related to E. risticii and E. sennetsu than to N. helminthoeca. The biological and antigenic characteristics and the 16S rRNA sequence data suggest that the SF agent is a new species that belongs to the genus Ehrlichia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ehrlichia/classification*; Ehrlichia/genetics; Ehrlichia/immunology; Ehrlichia/ultrastructure
  4. Fulltext Molecular evidence of potential novel spotted fever group rickettsiae, Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species in Amblyomma ticks parasitizing wild snakes
    Kho KL, Koh FX, Tay ST
    Parasit Vectors, 2015;8:112.
    PMID: 25889376 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0719-3
    Amblyomma ticks parasitize a wide range of animals in tropical regions. This study describes the identification of Amblyomma ticks from wild snakes in Malaysia and the detection of potential human pathogens such as Rickettsia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia and bartonellae in the ticks.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ehrlichia/genetics; Ehrlichia/isolation & purification*
  5. Vector-Borne Diseases in Stray Dogs in Peninsular Malaysia and Molecular Detection of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia spp. from Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Acari: Ixodidae) Ticks
    Koh FX, Panchadcharam C, Tay ST
    J Med Entomol, 2016 Jan;53(1):183-7.
    PMID: 26494821 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjv153
    Little data are available on the prevalence and transmission of vector-borne diseases in stray dogs in Peninsular Malaysia. This study was designed to determine the occurrence of vector-borne pathogens in Malaysian stray dogs using serological and molecular approaches. In total, 48 dog blood samples were subjected to serological analysis using SNAP 4Dx kit (IDEXX Laboratories, Westbrook, ME). The presence of Ehrlichia and Anaplasma DNA in the dog blood samples and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille) ticks was detected using nested polymerase chain reaction assays. Positive serological findings against Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum were obtained in 17 (39.5%) and four (9.3%) of 43 dog samples, respectively. None of the dog blood samples were positive for Borrelia burgdorferi and Dirofilaria immitis. DNA of E. canis and A. phagocytophilum was detected in 12 (25.5%) and two (4.3%) of 47 dog blood samples, and 17 (51.5%) and one (3.0%) of 33 R. sanguineus ticks, respectively. Additionally, DNA of Ehrlichia spp. closely related to Ehrlichia chaffeensis was detected in two (6.1%) R. sanguineus ticks. This study highlights the prevalence of anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis in dogs in Malaysia. Due to the zoonotic potential of Ehrlichia and Anaplasma spp., appropriate measures should be instituted for prevention and control of vector-borne diseases in dogs.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ehrlichia chaffeensis/isolation & purification*
  6. Characterization of serum protein fractions of dogs naturally infected with Ehrlichia canis or Anaplasma platys associated with uveitis
    Nimsuphan B, Prasroedsang S, Kengradomkij C, Thayananuphat A, Kromkhun P
    Trop Biomed, 2020 Sep 01;37(3):551-559.
    PMID: 33612770 DOI: 10.47665/tb.37.3.551
    Uveitis associated with Ehrlichia canis or Anaplasma platys infections were reported in dogs. However, only two E. canis-infected dogs with hypergammaglobulinemia showed acute blindness were reported. There were limited data of the species of Ehrlichia or Anaplasma and the alteration of serum protein fractions in infected dogs. Thus, the species of causative pathogen were investigated and compared the serum protein fractions between infected dogs associated with anterior uveitis and panuveitis in clinical situations. All 103 studied dogs were brought into the ophthalmology clinic which each dog showed signs of unilateral or bilateral uveitis related to ehrlichial infection. Dogs were divided into anterior uveitis and panuveitis groups. The species of Ehrlichia or Anaplasma were identified using nested-PCR based on the 16S rRNA gene and DNA sequencing from blood samples. The serum protein fractions were analyzed using electrophoresis. Fifty-eight dogs (56.31%) were positive of which E. canis and A. platys were detected in 51 and 7 dogs, respectively. The total serum protein and globulin levels were higher in the infected dogs associated with panuveitis than anterior uveitis while the albumin levels were significantly lower in the panuveitis group. The A/G ratios significantly decreased in both groups. Gamma globulin was detected at high levels in both groups while beta globulin significantly increased in the panuveitis group. Hypergammaglobulinemia was detected in 76.92 and 90.90% of infected dogs associated with anterior uveitis and panuveitis, respectively. Most of the infected dogs associated with panuveitis showed significantly levels of hyperproteinemia, hyperbetaglobulinemia and hypergammaglobulinemia compared with anterior uveitis group. E. canis was found as the major pathogen in infected dogs associated with uveitis in this study.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ehrlichia; Ehrlichia canis
  7. Fulltext Molecular detection of Ehrlichia canis in dogs in Malaysia
    Nazari M, Lim SY, Watanabe M, Sharma RS, Cheng NA, Watanabe M
    PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2013;7(1):e1982.
    PMID: 23301114 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001982
    An epidemiological study of Ehrlichia canis infection in dogs in Peninsular Malaysia was carried out using molecular detection techniques. A total of 500 canine blood samples were collected from veterinary clinics and dog shelters. Molecular screening by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed using genus-specific primers followed by PCR using E. canis species-specific primers. Ten out of 500 dogs were positive for E. canis. A phylogenetic analysis of the E. canis Malaysia strain showed that it was grouped tightly with other E. canis strains from different geographic regions. The present study revealed for the first time, the presence of genetically confirmed E. canis with a prevalence rate of 2.0% in naturally infected dogs in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ehrlichia canis/genetics; Ehrlichia canis/isolation & purification*
  8. Molecular detection of tick-borne haemopathogens in shelter dogs and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (sensu lato) ticks from Peninsular Malaysia
    Sipin Q, Mustaffa Kamal F, Watanabe M, Megat Abdul Rani PA, Low VL, Abdul Aziz NA
    Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis, 2020 Dec;73:101563.
    PMID: 33120297 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2020.101563
    Ticks are important vectors in transmitting various pathogens and they could jeopardize the health and welfare of humans and animals worldwide. The present study aimed to investigate the presence of important tick-borne haemopathogens (TBH) in dogs and ticks via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. A total of 220 blood samples and 140 ticks were collected from 10 animal shelters in Peninsular Malaysia. Of 220 blood samples, 77 (35 %) were positive to TBH, of which 20 % were E. canis, 12 % were A. platys, 7 % were B. gibsoni and 7 % were B. vogeli. All ticks were identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus with five samples (3.57 %) positive with TBH. Co-infections of TBH (0.45-9.55 %) in dogs were also observed in this study.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ehrlichia canis/classification; Ehrlichia canis/isolation & purification
  9. Genetic variability of Ehrlichia canis TRP36 in ticks, dogs, and red foxes from Eurasia
    Bezerra-Santos MA, Nguyen VL, Iatta R, Manoj RRS, Latrofa MS, Hodžić A, et al.
    Vet Microbiol, 2021 Apr;255:109037.
    PMID: 33740731 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2021.109037
    Ehrlichia canis is among the most prevalent tick-borne pathogens infecting dogs worldwide, being primarily vectored by brown dog ticks, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.). The genetic variability of E. canis has been assessed by analysis of different genes (e.g., disulfide bond formation protein gene, glycoprotein 19, tandem repeat protein 36 - TRP36) in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and in a single dog sample from Europe (i.e., Spain). This study was aimed to assess the variations in the TRP36 gene of E. canis detected in naturally infected canids and R. sanguineus s.l. ticks from different countries in Asia and Europe. DNA samples from dogs (n = 644), foxes (n = 146), and R. sanguineus s.l. ticks (n = 658) from Austria, Italy, Iran, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Taiwan were included in this study. Ehrlichia canis 16S rRNA positive samples (n = 115 from the previous studies; n = 14 from Austria in this study) were selected for molecular examination by analyses of TRP36 gene. Out of 129 E. canis 16S rRNA positive samples from dogs (n = 88), foxes (n = 7), and R. sanguineus s.l. ticks (n = 34), the TRP36 gene was successfully amplified from 52. The phylogenetic analysis of the TRP36 pre-repeat, tandem repeat, and post repeat regions showed that most samples were genetically close to the United States genogroup, whereas two samples from Austria and one from Pakistan clustered within the Taiwan genogroup. TRP36 sequences from all samples presented a high conserved nucleotide sequence in the tandem repeat region (from 6 to 20 copies), encoding for nine amino acids (i.e., TEDSVSAPA). Our results confirm the US genogroup as the most frequent group in dogs and ticks tested herein, whereas the Taiwan genogroup was present in a lower frequency. Besides, this study described for the first time the US genogroup in red foxes, thus revealing that these canids share identical strains with domestic dogs and R. sanguineus s.l. ticks.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ehrlichia canis/classification; Ehrlichia canis/genetics*
  10. Detection of Anaplasmataceae agents and co-infection with other tick-borne protozoa in dogs and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks
    Low VL, Prakash BK, Lim YA, Tan TK, Vinnie-Siow WY, Sofian-Azirun M, et al.
    Exp Appl Acarol, 2018 Aug;75(4):429-435.
    PMID: 30073430 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-018-0280-9
    Anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis are of serious health concern worldwide for animals and humans. In the present study, we report the occurrence of Anaplasma platys and Ehrlichia canis in dogs and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.) ticks from Peninsular Malaysia using a nested polymerase chain reaction assay based on amplification of the 16S rRNA gene. Anaplasma platys was detected from dogs and ticks with prevalence rates of 3.3% (8/240) and 2.9% (4/140), respectively. On the other hand, 12.9% (31/240) of the dogs and 0.7% (1/140) of the ticks were tested positive for E. canis. Additionally, co-infections of A. platys and E. canis with Babesia or Hepatozoon protozoa were also noted in this study. Double infection (E. canis + B. gibsoni) was observed in tick, whereas triple infections (E. canis + A. platys + B. vogeli and E. canis + A. platys + H. canis) were found in dogs. This study represents the first evidence of A. platys DNA in R. sanguineus s.l. in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ehrlichia canis
  11. Fulltext Molecular detection of pathogens in ticks and fleas collected from companion dogs and cats in East and Southeast Asia
    Nguyen VL, Colella V, Greco G, Fang F, Nurcahyo W, Hadi UK, et al.
    Parasit Vectors, 2020 Aug 15;13(1):420.
    PMID: 32799914 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04288-8
    BACKGROUND: Ticks and fleas are considered amongst the most important arthropod vectors of medical and veterinary concern due to their ability to transmit pathogens to a range of animal species including dogs, cats and humans. By sharing a common environment with humans, companion animal-associated parasitic arthropods may potentially transmit zoonotic vector-borne pathogens (VBPs). This study aimed to molecularly detect pathogens from ticks and fleas from companion dogs and cats in East and Southeast Asia.

    METHODS: A total of 392 ticks and 248 fleas were collected from 401 infested animals (i.e. 271 dogs and 130 cats) from China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam, and molecularly screened for the presence of pathogens. Ticks were tested for Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., Babesia spp. and Hepatozoon spp. while fleas were screened for the presence of Rickettsia spp. and Bartonella spp.

    RESULT: Of the 392 ticks tested, 37 (9.4%) scored positive for at least one pathogen with Hepatozoon canis being the most prevalent (5.4%), followed by Ehrlichia canis (1.8%), Babesia vogeli (1%), Anaplasma platys (0.8%) and Rickettsia spp. (1%) [including Rickettsia sp. (0.5%), Rickettsia asembonensis (0.3%) and Rickettsia felis (0.3%)]. Out of 248 fleas tested, 106 (42.7%) were harboring at least one pathogen with R. felis being the most common (19.4%), followed by Bartonella spp. (16.5%), Rickettsia asembonensis (10.9%) and "Candidatus Rickettsia senegalensis" (0.4%). Furthermore, 35 Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks were subjected to phylogenetic analysis, of which 34 ticks belonged to the tropical and only one belonged to the temperate lineage (Rh. sanguineus (sensu stricto)).

    CONCLUSION: Our data reveals the circulation of different VBPs in ticks and fleas of dogs and cats from Asia, including zoonotic agents, which may represent a potential risk to animal and human health.

    Matched MeSH terms: Ehrlichia/classification; Ehrlichia/genetics; Ehrlichia/isolation & purification
  12. Fulltext Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Pathogenic Strain of Ehrlichia minasensis
    Moura de Aguiar D, Pessoa Araújo Junior J, Nakazato L, Bard E, Aguilar-Bultet L, Vorimore F, et al.
    Microorganisms, 2019 Nov 05;7(11).
    PMID: 31694172 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7110528
    The genus Ehrlichia is composed of tick-borne obligate intracellular gram-negative alphaproteobacteria of the family Anaplasmataceae. Ehrlichia includes important pathogens affecting canids (E. canis, E. chaffeensis, and E. ewingii), rodents (E. muris), and ruminants (E. ruminantium). Ehrlichiaminasensis, an Ehrlichia closely related to E. canis, was initially reported in Canada and Brazil. This bacterium has now been reported in Pakistan, Malaysia, China, Ethiopia, South Africa, and the Mediterranean island of Corsica, suggesting that E. minasensis has a wide geographical distribution. Previously, E. minasensis was found to cause clinical ehrlichiosis in an experimentally infected calf. The type strain E. minasensis UFMG-EV was successfully isolated from Rhipicephalus microplus ticks and propagated in the tick embryonic cell line of Ixodes scapularis (IDE8). However, the isolation and propagation of E. minasensis strains from cattle has remained elusive. In this study, the E. minasensis strain Cuiabá was isolated from an eight-month-old male calf of Holstein breed that was naturally infected with the bacterium. The calf presented clinical signs and hematological parameters of bovine ehrlichiosis. The in vitro culture of the agent was established in the canine cell line DH82. Ehrlichial morulae were observed using light and electron microscopy within DH82 cells. Total DNA was extracted, and the full genome of the E. minasensis strain Cuiabá was sequenced. A core-genome-based phylogenetic tree of Ehrlichia spp. and Anaplasma spp. confirmed that E. minasensis is a sister taxa of E. canis. A comparison of functional categories among Ehrlichia showed that E. minasensis has significantly less genes in the 'clustering-based subsystems' category, which includes functionally coupled genes for which the functional attributes are not well understood. Results strongly suggest that E. minasensis is a novel pathogen infecting cattle. The epidemiology of this Ehrlichia deserves further attention because these bacteria could be an overlooked cause of tick-borne bovine ehrlichiosis, with a wide distribution.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ehrlichia
  13. Rickettsial diseases of the Far East: new perspectives
    Rapmund G
    J Infect Dis, 1984 Mar;149(3):330-8.
    PMID: 6425420
    The rickettsial disease of man found only in Asia is mite-borne (scrub) typhus, caused by Rickettsia tsutsugamushi. Unique to southern Japan is a little-known human mononucleosis-like disease caused by Rickettsia sennetsu. In 1981 and 1982, there was a remarkable resurgence in the number of reported cases of mite-borne typhus in Japan after some years of virtual absence. Recent studies of R sennetsu have resulted in its reclassification to the genus Ehrlichia, members of which until now have been exclusively pathogens of animals. The historical background of ecologic investigations, in Malaysia and elsewhere, of these two developments suggest directions for future research.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ehrlichia/classification
  14. Fulltext Bacterial community in Haemaphysalis ticks of domesticated animals from the Orang Asli communities in Malaysia
    Khoo JJ, Chen F, Kho KL, Ahmad Shanizza AI, Lim FS, Tan KK, et al.
    Ticks Tick Borne Dis, 2016 07;7(5):929-937.
    PMID: 27132518 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.04.013
    Ticks are vectors in the transmission of many important infectious diseases in human and animals. Ticks can be readily found in the semi-forested areas such as the settlements of the indigenous people in Malaysia, the Orang Asli. There is still minimal information available on the bacterial agents associated with ticks found in Malaysia. We performed a survey of the bacterial communities associated with ticks collected from domestic animals found in two Orang Asli villages in Malaysia. We collected 62 ticks, microscopically and molecularly identified as related to Haemaphysalis wellingtoni, Haemaphysalis hystricis and Haemaphysalis bispinosa. Bacterial 16s rRNA hypervariable region (V6) amplicon libraries prepared from the tick samples were sequenced on the Ion Torrent PGM platform. We detected a total of 392 possible bacterial genera after pooling and sequencing 20 samples, indicating a diverse bacterial community profile. Dominant taxa include the potential tick endosymbiont, Coxiella. Other dominant taxa include the tick-associated pathogen, Rickettsia, and environmental bacteria such as Bacillus, Mycobacterium, Sphingomonas and Pseudomonas. Other known tick-associated bacteria were also detected, including Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsiella and Wolbachia, albeit at very low abundance. Specific PCR was performed on selected samples to identify Rickettsia and Coxiella. Sequence of Rickettsia felis, which causes spotted fever in human and cats, was identified in one sample. Coxiella endosymbionts were detected in three samples. This study provides the baseline knowledge of the microbiome of ticks in Malaysia, focusing on tick-associated bacteria affecting the Orang Asli communities. The role of the herein found Coxiella and Rickettsia in tick physiology or disease transmission merits further investigation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ehrlichia/genetics; Ehrlichia/isolation & purification
  15. Molecular investigation of Anaplasma spp. in domestic and wildlife animals in Peninsular Malaysia
    Koh FX, Panchadcharam C, Sitam FT, Tay ST
    Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports, 2018 08;13:141-147.
    PMID: 31014863 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.05.006
    Anaplasma spp. are Gram-negative obligate intracellular, tick-borne bacteria which are of medical and veterinary importance. Little information is available on Anaplasma infection affecting domestic and wildlife animals in Malaysia. This study investigated the presence of Anaplasma spp. in the blood samples of domestic and wildlife animals in Peninsular Malaysia, using polymerase chain reaction (EHR-PCR) assays targeting the 16S rRNA gene of Anaplasmataceae. High detection rates (60.7% and 59.0%, respectively) of Anaplasma DNA were noted in 224 cattle (Bos taurus) and 78 deer (77 Rusa timorensis and one Rusa unicolor) investigated in this study. Of the 60 amplified fragments obtained for sequence analysis, Anaplasma marginale was exclusively detected in cattle while Anaplasma platys/Anaplasma phagocytophilum was predominantly detected in the deer. Based on sequence analyses of the longer fragment of the 16S rRNA gene (approximately 1000 bp), the occurrence of A. marginale, Anaplasma capra and Candidatus Anaplasma camelii in cattle, Candidatus A. camelii in deer and Anaplasma bovis in a goat was identified in this study. To assess whether animals were infected with more than one species of Anaplasma, nested amplification of A. phagocytophilum, A. bovis and Ehrlichia chaffeensis DNA was performed for 33 animal samples initially screened positive for Anaplasmataceae. No amplification of E. chaffeensis DNA was obtained from animals investigated. BLAST analyses of the 16S rDNA sequences from three deer (R. timorensis), a buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and a cow (B. taurus) reveal similarity with that of Candidatus Anaplasma boleense strain (GenBank accession no.: KX987335). Sequence analyses of the partial gene fragments of major surface protein (msp4) gene from two deer (R. timorensis) and a monitor lizard (Varanus salvator) show the detection of a strain highly similar (99%) to that of A. phagocytophilum strain ZJ-China (EU008082). The findings in this study show the occurrence of various Anaplasma species including those newly reported species in Malaysian domestic and wildlife animals. The role of these animals as reservoirs/maintenance hosts for Anaplasma infection are yet to be determined.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ehrlichia/genetics
  16. Ehrlichia and Anaplasma Infections: Serological Evidence and Tick Surveillance in Peninsular Malaysia
    Koh FX, Kho KL, Kisomi MG, Wong LP, Bulgiba A, Tan PE, et al.
    J Med Entomol, 2018 02 28;55(2):269-276.
    PMID: 29202206 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjx204
    Little information is available on human anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis in Southeast Asia despite increasing reports of the detection of Anaplasma spp. and Ehrlichia spp. in the ticks. We report herein the serological findings against the tick-borne pathogens in a group of animal farm workers (n = 87) and indigenous people (n = 102) in Peninsular Malaysia. IgG antibodies against Ehrlichia chaffeensis were detected from 29.9% and 34.3% of farm workers and indigenous people, respectively, using commercial indirect immunofluorescence assays. Comparatively, only 6.9% of the indigenous people but none of the animal farm workers were seropositive to Anaplasma phagocytophilum. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting the 16S rRNA gene of Anaplasmataceae was used to identify Anaplastamataceae in ticks collected from various locations adjacent to the areas where the serological survey was conducted. In this study, a total of 61.5% of ticks infesting farm animals, 37.5% of ticks infesting peri-domestic animals in rural villages, 27.3% of ticks collected from wildlife animals, and 29.1% of questing ticks collected from forest vegetation were positive for Anaplasmataceae DNA. Sequence analyses of 16S rRNA gene region (238 bp) provide the identification for Anaplasma marginale, Anaplasma bovis, Anaplasma platys, A. phagocytophilum, and Anaplasma spp. closely related to Candidatus Cryptoplasma californiense in ticks. E. chaffeensis DNA was not detected from any ticks, instead, Ehrlichia sp. strain EBm52, Ehrlichia mineirensis and Candidatus Ehrlichia shimanensis are the only Ehrlichia sp. identified from cattle ticks in this study. Further investigation is required to ascertain the occurrence of zoonotic transmission of Ehrlichia and Anaplasma infections in Peninsular Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ehrlichia/isolation & purification
  17. The incidence of canine haematozoa in Peninsular Malaysia
    Rajamanickam C, Wiesenhutter E, Zin FM, Hamid J
    Vet Parasitol, 1985 Jan;17(2):151-7.
    PMID: 3922103
    In 3 urban areas in Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia between 1973 and 1981, blood from 4084 dogs was examined for haematozoa. The following frequencies were found: Babesia gibsoni 17.7%; microfilariae of Dirofilaria immitis 9.6%; Hepatozoon canis 1.2%; B. canis 1.1%; Ehrlichia canis 0.2%; Trypanosoma evansi 0.1%. A detailed examination of B. gibsoni infections and microfilariasis due to D. immitis with regards to monthly distribution, breed frequency, sex and age, revealed that pedigree and non-pedigree dogs were equally susceptible to Babesia and microfilariae infections.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ehrlichia
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