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Tick-borne microorganisms in many tick species and many areas of China are still not thoroughly investigated. In this study, 224 ticks including two species (Haemaphysalis longicornis and Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis) were collected from four cities in Hebei, Shandong, and Qinghai provinces, China. Ticks were screened for the presence of tick-borne bacterial microorganisms including Rickettsia , Anaplasmataceae (Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Neoehrlichia , etc.), Coxiella, Borrelia , and Bartonella. Two Anaplasma species (Anaplasma ovis and Anaplasma capra) were detected in H. longicornis from Xingtai City of Hebei Province, with a positive rate of 3 % and 8 %, respectively. A Coxiella species was detected in H. longicornis ticks from all three locations in Hebei and Shandong provinces, with the positive rate ranging from 30 to 75 %. All the 16S and rpoB sequences were very similar (99.77–100 % identity) to Coxiella endosymbiont of Haemaphysalis ticks. An Ehrlichia species was detected in H. qinghaiensis (6/66, 9 %) from Xining City, Qinghai Province. The 16S and groEL sequences had 100 % and 97.40–97.85 % nucleotide identities to " Candidatus Ehrlichia pampeana" strains, respectively, suggesting that it may be a variant of " Candidatus Ehrlichia pampeana". All the ticks were negative for Rickettsia, Borrelia , and Bartonella. Because all the ticks were removed from goats or humans and were partially or fully engorged, it is possible that the microorganisms were from the blood meal but not vectored by the ticks. Our results may provide some information on the diversity and distribution of tick-borne pathogens in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaplasma capra , an emerging tick-borne pathogen, has caused a lot of concern since initially recognized in goats and patients in China in 2015, and has been reported in a wide range of domestic and wild animals as well as ticks worldwide, posing a threat to public health. In this systematic review, we established a comprehensive database to acquire the distribution and prevalence status of this pathogen, and collected all sequences of A. capra to summarize the details of genetic diversity by phylogenetic analysis. We also predicted the possible global distribution of A. capra by using ecological niche model. A. capra has been known to distribute in 18 countries across Asia, Europe and Africa. A total of 19 species of mammals from seven families have been reported as hosts, and domestic ruminants including goats, sheep and cattle were the major hosts. At least 8 tick species of 4 genera have been reported to carry A. capra , and Haemaphysalis longicornis was most commonly infected. Sheep and Rhipicephalus microplus had the highest positive rates among animals and ticks. Phylogenetic analysis based on gltA and groEL genes revealed that A. capra could primarily be divided into two clusters related to geographic location and animal hosts. The predictive model showed that the most suitable habitats for presence of A. capra were mainly located in Asia and eastern Europe. These cumulative data regarding A. capra of our study lay a foundation for the subsequent exploration of this emerging tick-borne pathogen. • Anaplasma capra is distributed in 18 countries across Asia, Europe and Africa. • A total of 19 species of mammals from seven families have been reported as hosts of Anaplasma capra. • At least 8 tick species of 4 genera have been reported to carry Anaplasma capra , and Haemaphysalis longicornis was most commonly infected. • Phylogenetic analysis based on gltA , groEL and 16S rRNA genes revealed that Anaplasma capra could primarily be divided into two clusters related to geographic location and animal hosts. • The predictive model showed that the most suitable habitats for presence of Anaplasma capra were mainly located in Asia and eastern Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Differential identification of Anaplasma spp. in 1219 South Korean cattle by PCR and RFLP. • Anaplasma bovis and A. capra were detected in 1.0% and 0.4% using 16S rRNA and multilocus genes. • This study suggests the potential of cattle to serve as reservoirs of A. capra. • The occurrence of a new emerging A. capra strain with public health and veterinary significance in Korean cattle. Abstract Bovine anaplasmosis is a tick-borne, infectious, non-contagious disease caused by Anaplasma marginale , A. centrale , A. bovis , and zoonotic A. phagocytophilum. Recently, Anaplasma capra detected in goats was identified as a novel zoonotic pathogen. To determine whether A. capra can infect bovines, we used PCR to differentially diagnose Anaplasma spp. in 1219 South Korean cattle by performing multilocus gene typing and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analysis detected the 16S rRNA gene of A. bovis and four genes from A. capra in 12 (1.0%) and five (0.4%) cattle, respectively. Supplementary discrimination between A. bovis and A. capra was accomplished by RFLP. The 16S rRNA, msp4 , groEL , and gltA genes of A. capra identified in this study had much lower degrees of identity to those in A. centrale and other Anaplasma spp. A. phagocytophilum was not detected in any of the tested cattle. Although the prevalence was low, this study suggests the potential of cattle to serve as reservoirs of A. capra. Thus, further studies are needed to clarify the pathogenesis of A. capra in cattle and its possible involvement in transmission to humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The members of the genus Anaplasma are important tick-borne rickettsial bacteria of veterinary and public health significance. Domestic ruminants are important reservoir hosts for several Anaplasma species. In this study, the occurrence of Anaplasma spp. was investigated by PCR in domestic small ruminants from Gansu, northwestern China. The results showed a high prevalence of Anaplasma spp. (46.2%, 201/435) in sheep. The average infection rates were 5.7%, 24.4%, 28.0% and 18.2% for A. ovis , A. bovis , A. phagocytophilum and A. capra , respectively. Coinfection of different Anaplasma species occurred in 96 (22.1%) sheep. The infections of Anaplasma species in sheep were confirmed by sequencing of msp4 , 16S rRNA and gltA genes. Sequence analysis revealed a novel A. capra genotype in sheep that was distinct from the isolates identified from patients in northeastern China. This study gives the first insight of presence of four distinct Anaplasma species with veterinary and medical significance in sheep in northwestern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haemaphysalis longicornis is one of the most dominant and widespread tick species in China. This species mainly infests wild animals and occasionally attacks humans, and has been associated with the transmission of a variety of zoonotic pathogens including spotted fever group Rickettsia (SFGR), severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia spp. and Theileria spp.. Although there are increasing reports of various pathogens associated with H. longicornis, some neglected pathogens in certain areas still need to be studied. In this study, a total of 171 H. longicornis ticks were collected from goats in three locations of Shandong Province, Eastern China (Zibo, Linyi, and Qingdao cities), and subsequently screened for the presence of Rickettsia, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia bacteria. A total of four bacterial species were identified and characterized. "Candidatus Rickettsia jingxinensis" was detected in one tick specimen from Zibo city. Of 98 ticks from Linyi city, 63.27% (62/98) were tested positive for Anaplasma capra and 5.10% (5/98) were positive for Anaplasma bovis. Interestingly, a novel Anaplasma species was detected and characterized in one tick specimen from Zibo and one other from Linyi, respectively. Genetic and phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S, gltA, groEL, and msp4 genes indicated that it was divergent from all known Anaplasma species but mostly related to A. phagocytophilum and "Cadidatus Anaplasma boleense". Based on where it was first detected, we named it "Candidatus Anaplasma shandongensis". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaplasmosis caused by gram-negative bacteria poses a great threat to the wildlife and livestock population in most tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Among these, Anaplasma capra (A. capra) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen. The present study aimed to determine the molecular prevalence of A. capra in mouflon sheep (Ovis gmelini) and domestic sheep (Ovis aries) of Pakistan. A total of 210 mouflon and domestic sheep blood samples were collected and analyzed by microscopy and PCR. The study reported an overall prevalence of A. capra at 20.48 % (43/210) based on PCR. However, the prevalence of A. capra was found at 11.43 % (12/105) in wild and 29.52 % (31/105) in domestic sheep respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene of Anaplasma capra, revealed that four isolates of the current study were clustered together and showed a close resemblance with the Anaplasma capra isolates of Korea, China, Iran, and Russia; however, two isolates showed close resemblance with Indian isolate of A. capra. Hematobiochemical analysis of diseased (n = 10) and healthy animals (n = 10) revealed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in WBCs, RBCs, PCV, hemoglobin, mean calcium levels, and total protein, while an increased amount of AST, ALP, total bilirubin, creatinine, and the BUN levels were observed in animals suffering from anaplasmosis. This is the first report regarding the molecular characterization of Anaplasma capra in captive mouflon and domestic sheep of Pakistan. The current study provides information about epidemiology of A. capra and hematobiochemical changes in mouflon and domestic sheep of Pakistan. • First identification of novel zoonotic tick-borne Anaplasma sp. infecting captive mouflon and domestic sheep of Pakistan. • An overall prevalence of Anaplasma capra (20.48 %) has been reported in mouflon and domestic sheep of Pakistan. • Phylogenetic analysis of Anaplasma capra showed a close resemblance in isolates of captive mouflon and domestic sheep. • Hematobiochemical changes observed in sheep infected with Anaplasma capra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study identifies the occurrence of A. capra in blood samples of wild onagers in Iran. • Also, this study is the first report of A. capra in onagers and Equidae family, worldwide. • Phylogenetic characteristics suggest that this pathogen could be a potentially health threat to animals and human. • A. capra has not been reported from Iran previously in any other host and this is the first report from Iran. 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]