Molecular diagnosis and characterization of Anaplasma marginale and Ehrlichia ruminantium infecting beef cattle of Maputo Province, Mozambique

• Published in: BMC veterinary research Vol. 20; no. 1; p. 185
• Main Authors: Matos, Carlos António, Nomboro, Cesária Fiossiane, Gonçalves, Luiz Ricardo, Cala, Aida Cristina, Sitoe, Carlos Francisco, Vinte, Ana Paula Rúpia, Mondlane, Cristovão Mario, André, Marcos Rogério, do Carmo Carrilho, Maria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 10.05.2024; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: 16S rRNA; Anaplasma; Anaplasma marginale; Anaplasma marginale - genetics; Anaplasma marginale - isolation & purification; Anaplasma spp; Anaplasmosis - epidemiology; Anaplasmosis - microbiology; Animals; Arachnids; Asia; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins - genetics; Beef; beef cattle; blood; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - epidemiology; Cattle Diseases - microbiology; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Disease; Diseases; DNA; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; economic impact; Ehrlichia; Ehrlichia ruminantium; Ehrlichia ruminantium - genetics; Ehrlichia ruminantium - isolation & purification; Ehrlichiosis - diagnosis; Ehrlichiosis - epidemiology; Ehrlichiosis - microbiology; Ehrlichiosis - veterinary; Epidemiology; family; genes; Genetic aspects; Genetic diversity; Genetic testing; genetic variation; Genotypes; Gram-negative bacteria; Identification and classification; Infections; Latin America; Map1; mixed infection; Mozambique; Mozambique - epidemiology; msp5; Nucleotide sequence; Phylogenetics; Phylogeny; Polymerase chain reaction; Polymerase Chain Reaction - veterinary; Public health; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; rRNA 16S; species; Testing; Mozambique; Ethiopia; Africa; Asia; Latin America; Map1; 16S rRNA; Cattle; msp5; Maputo Province; Anaplasma spp; Ehrlichia ruminantium
• ISSN: 1746-6148; 1746-6148
• DOI: 10.1186/s12917-024-04045-4

Members of the Anaplasmataceae family, such as the Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species, cause economic losses and public health risks. However, the exact economic impact has not been comprehensively assessed in Mozambique due to limited data available on its basic epidemiology. Therefore, we investigated the molecular occurrence and identity of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia spp. infecting beef cattle in Maputo province, Mozambique. A total of 200 whole blood samples were collected from apparently healthy beef cattle. Whole blood DNA was extracted and tested for presence of Anaplasma spp. and Ehrlichia ruminantium DNA through amplification of the 16S rRNA and map1 genes. Positive samples to Anaplasma spp. were subject to PCR assay targeting the A. marginale-msp5 gene. Amplicons obtained were purified, sequenced and subject to phylogenetic analyses. Anaplasma spp., A. marginale and E. ruminantium were detected in 153 (76.5%), 142 (71%) and 19 (9.5%) of all the samples analyzed, respectively. On this same sample group, 19 (9.5%) were co-infected with A. marginale and E. ruminantium. The 16S rRNA sequences of Anaplasma spp. obtained were phylogenetically related to A. marginale, A. centrale and A. platys. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that A. marginale-msp5 nucleotide sequences were grouped with sequences from Asia, Africa and Latin America, whereas E. ruminantium-map1 DNA nucleotide sequences were positioned in multiple clusters. Cattle in Maputo Province are reservoirs for multiple Anaplasma species. A high positivity rate of infection by A. marginale was observed, as well as high genetic diversity of E. ruminantium. Furthermore, five new genotypes of E. ruminantium-map1 were identified.