Detection and Characterisation of Anaplasma marginale and A. centrale in South Africa

• Published in: Veterinary sciences Vol. 5; no. 1; p. 26
• Main Authors: Hove, Paidashe, Khumalo, Zamantungwa T H, Chaisi, Mamohale E, Oosthuizen, Marinda C, Brayton, Kelly A, Collins, Nicola E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 03.03.2018; MDPI
• Subjects: Anaplasma; Anaplasmosis; Arachnids; Bacteriology; bovine anaplasmosis; Cattle; Epidemiology; Genetic diversity; Hybridization; Membrane proteins; Msp1a; Msp1aS; msp1α genotyping; Outer membrane proteins; Parasitic diseases; Polymerase chain reaction; qPCR; Review; Vaccine development; Vaccines; United States > US; South Africa; Msp1a; qPCR; bovine anaplasmosis; Msp1aS; msp1α genotyping
• ISSN: 2306-7381; 2306-7381
• DOI: 10.3390/vetsci5010026

Bovine anaplasmosis is endemic in South Africa and it has a negative economic impact on cattle farming. An improved understanding of and variety transmission, together with improved tools for pathogen detection and characterisation, are required to inform best management practices. Direct detection methods currently in use for and in South Africa are light microscopic examination of tissue and organ smears, conventional, nested, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays, and a reverse line blot hybridisation assay. Of these, qPCR is the most sensitive for detection of and in South Africa. Serological assays also feature in routine diagnostics, but cross-reactions prevent accurate species identification. Recently, genetic characterisation has confirmed that and are separate species. Diversity studies targeting Msp1a repeats for and Msp1aS repeats for have revealed high genetic variation and point to correspondingly high levels of variation in outer membrane proteins (OMPs), which have been shown to be potential vaccine candidates in North American studies. Information on these OMPs is lacking for South African strains and should be considered in future recombinant vaccine development studies, ultimately informing the development of regional or global vaccines.