Delineating anaplasma phagocytophilum ecotypes in coexisting, discrete enzootic cycles

Bown, K; Lambin, X; Ogden, NH; Begon, M; Telford, G; Woldehiwet, Z; Birtles, RJ

Abstract

The emerging tick-borne pathogen Anaplasma phagocytophilum
is under increasing scrutiny for the existence of
subpopulations that are adapted to different natural cycles.
Here, we characterized the diversity of A. phagocytophilum
genotypes circulating in a natural system that includes multiple
hosts and at least 2 tick species, Ixodes ricinus and the
small mammal specialist I. trianguliceps. We encountered
numerous genotypes, but only 1 in rodents, with the remainder
limited to deer and host-seeking I. ricinus ticks. The absence
of the rodent-associated genotype from host-seeking
I. ricinus ticks was notable because we demonstrated that
rodents fed a large proportion of the I. ricinus larval population
and that these larvae were abundant when infections
caused by the rodent-associated genotype were prevalent.
These observations are consistent with the conclusion that
genotypically distinct subpopulations of A. phagocytophilum
are restricted to coexisting but separate enzootic cycles and
suggest that this restriction may result from specific vector
compatibility.

Citation

Bown, K., Lambin, X., Ogden, N., Begon, M., Telford, G., Woldehiwet, Z., & Birtles, R. (2009). Delineating anaplasma phagocytophilum ecotypes in coexisting, discrete enzootic cycles. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 15(12), https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1512.090178

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2009
• Deposit Date: Dec 20, 2011
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 5, 2016
• Journal: Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Print ISSN: 1080-6040
• Publisher: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 15
• Issue: 12
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1512.090178
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid1512.090178