Genetic characterization and phylogenetic of Anaplasma capra in Persian onagers (Equus hemionus onager)

Anaplasma spp. are among the most recognized arthropod-borne infectious agents. Although the novel A. capra has been isolated from wildlife, livestock, and hard ticks from many parts of the world, there is no report regarding the identification of this pathogen from equines and little is known about the epidemiology of A. capra in Equidae. In this study, A. capra was identified in two out of ten blood specimens of wild onagers (Equus hemionus onager) during a routine health check-up in Semnan, Iran by light microscopy and molecular analyses while other pathogens were not detected. First, inclusions on RBC's were observed in two blood smears by light microscopy. Then, the blood specimens of both animals were analyzed by realtime-PCR for Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and Theileria infections. A 1400 bp sequence of 16S rRNA belonging to Anaplasmataceae and 874 bp fragment for groEL gene for A. capra were amplified in Anaplasma positive samples and sequenced. Preliminary BLAST analysis of sequenced fragments showed high homology to A. capra strains in GenBank database. Finally, nested PCR and restriction enzyme fragment length polymorphism techniques confirmed the pathogen as A. capra. To the best of our knowledge, this study has reported the occurrence of A. capra in wild onagers for the first time and suggests that equines could be infected with this pathogen and act as reservoirs for A. capra.

Automated summary

This study reported the first occurrence of A. capra in wild onagers and suggested that equines could be infected with and act as reservoirs for A. capra.