Co-infections with multiple genotypes of Anaplasma marginale in cattle indicate pathogen diversity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Only a few studies have examined the presence of Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma centrale in South Africa, and no studies have comprehensively examined these species across the whole country. To undertake this country-wide study we adapted a duplex quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay for use in South Africa but found that one of the genes on which the assay was based was variable. Therefore, we sequenced a variety of field samples and tested the assay on the variants detected. We used the assay to screen 517 cattle samples sourced from all nine provinces of South Africa, and subsequently examined A. marginale positive samples for msp1α genotype to gauge strain diversity.

Results

Although the A. marginale msp1β gene is variable, the qPCR functions at an accep

SUBMITTER: Hove P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5753507 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature