Granulocytic anaplasmosis in cats from central Europe and molecular characterization of feline Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains by ankA gene, groEL gene and multilocus sequence typing
Abstract Background Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium that replicates in neutrophil granulocytes. It is transmitted by ticks of the Ixodes ricinus complex and causes febrile illness called granulocytic anaplasmosis primarily in humans, horses, dogs, sheep,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-05954-3 |
| _version_ | 1797453718194487296 |
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| author | Anna-Sophia Kruppenbacher Elisabeth Müller Matthew L. Aardema Ingo Schäfer Friederike D. von Loewenich |
| author_facet | Anna-Sophia Kruppenbacher Elisabeth Müller Matthew L. Aardema Ingo Schäfer Friederike D. von Loewenich |
| author_sort | Anna-Sophia Kruppenbacher |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium that replicates in neutrophil granulocytes. It is transmitted by ticks of the Ixodes ricinus complex and causes febrile illness called granulocytic anaplasmosis primarily in humans, horses, dogs, sheep, cattle and goats. In comparison, clinically apparent disease has been described rarely in cats especially compared to dogs and horses. It is currently unknown whether cats are less susceptible to A. phagocytophilum or whether granulocytic anaplasmosis might be underdiagnosed in cats. Methods To address this question, we examined clinical signs and laboratory findings in seven A. phagocytophilum infected cats from Germany and Switzerland. We then genetically characterized feline A. phagocytophilum strains and compared them to those from other hosts showing clinically apparent disease. For this purpose, ankA-based, groEL-based and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) were applied. Furthermore, the concordance between these typing methods was assessed. Results Fever, lethargy and anorexia were the most common clinical signs in cats suffering from granulocytic anaplasmosis. The most frequent laboratory finding was thrombocytopenia. All three typing methods consistently indicated that the A. phagocytophilum strains found infecting cats are the same as those that cause disease in humans, dogs and horses. In general, the three typing methods applied exhibited high concordance. Conclusions The genetic characterization of the feline A. phagocytophilum strains indicates that strain divergence is not the explanation for the fact that granulocytic anaplasmosis is much less frequently diagnosed in cats than in dogs and horses. Otherwise, it may be possible that cats are less susceptible to the same strains than dogs and horse are. However, due to the unspecific clinical signs, it should be considered that granulocytic anaplasmosis may be under-diagnosed in cats. Graphical Abstract |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:26:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-00efb23dc97148e2a21504fd242936fa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:26:53Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-00efb23dc97148e2a21504fd242936fa2023-11-26T12:28:55ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052023-10-011611910.1186/s13071-023-05954-3Granulocytic anaplasmosis in cats from central Europe and molecular characterization of feline Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains by ankA gene, groEL gene and multilocus sequence typingAnna-Sophia Kruppenbacher0Elisabeth Müller1Matthew L. Aardema2Ingo Schäfer3Friederike D. von Loewenich4Institute of Virology, University of MainzLABOKLIN GmbH and Co. KGDepartment of Biology, Montclair State UniversityLABOKLIN GmbH and Co. KGInstitute of Virology, University of MainzAbstract Background Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium that replicates in neutrophil granulocytes. It is transmitted by ticks of the Ixodes ricinus complex and causes febrile illness called granulocytic anaplasmosis primarily in humans, horses, dogs, sheep, cattle and goats. In comparison, clinically apparent disease has been described rarely in cats especially compared to dogs and horses. It is currently unknown whether cats are less susceptible to A. phagocytophilum or whether granulocytic anaplasmosis might be underdiagnosed in cats. Methods To address this question, we examined clinical signs and laboratory findings in seven A. phagocytophilum infected cats from Germany and Switzerland. We then genetically characterized feline A. phagocytophilum strains and compared them to those from other hosts showing clinically apparent disease. For this purpose, ankA-based, groEL-based and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) were applied. Furthermore, the concordance between these typing methods was assessed. Results Fever, lethargy and anorexia were the most common clinical signs in cats suffering from granulocytic anaplasmosis. The most frequent laboratory finding was thrombocytopenia. All three typing methods consistently indicated that the A. phagocytophilum strains found infecting cats are the same as those that cause disease in humans, dogs and horses. In general, the three typing methods applied exhibited high concordance. Conclusions The genetic characterization of the feline A. phagocytophilum strains indicates that strain divergence is not the explanation for the fact that granulocytic anaplasmosis is much less frequently diagnosed in cats than in dogs and horses. Otherwise, it may be possible that cats are less susceptible to the same strains than dogs and horse are. However, due to the unspecific clinical signs, it should be considered that granulocytic anaplasmosis may be under-diagnosed in cats. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-05954-3Anaplasma phagocytophilumankACatEuropeGermanyGranulocytic anaplasmosis |
| spellingShingle | Anna-Sophia Kruppenbacher Elisabeth Müller Matthew L. Aardema Ingo Schäfer Friederike D. von Loewenich Granulocytic anaplasmosis in cats from central Europe and molecular characterization of feline Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains by ankA gene, groEL gene and multilocus sequence typing Parasites & Vectors Anaplasma phagocytophilum ankA Cat Europe Germany Granulocytic anaplasmosis |
| title | Granulocytic anaplasmosis in cats from central Europe and molecular characterization of feline Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains by ankA gene, groEL gene and multilocus sequence typing |
| title_full | Granulocytic anaplasmosis in cats from central Europe and molecular characterization of feline Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains by ankA gene, groEL gene and multilocus sequence typing |
| title_fullStr | Granulocytic anaplasmosis in cats from central Europe and molecular characterization of feline Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains by ankA gene, groEL gene and multilocus sequence typing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Granulocytic anaplasmosis in cats from central Europe and molecular characterization of feline Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains by ankA gene, groEL gene and multilocus sequence typing |
| title_short | Granulocytic anaplasmosis in cats from central Europe and molecular characterization of feline Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains by ankA gene, groEL gene and multilocus sequence typing |
| title_sort | granulocytic anaplasmosis in cats from central europe and molecular characterization of feline anaplasma phagocytophilum strains by anka gene groel gene and multilocus sequence typing |
| topic | Anaplasma phagocytophilum ankA Cat Europe Germany Granulocytic anaplasmosis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-05954-3 |
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