Intrauterine Transmission of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Persistently Infected Lambs.

ABSTRACT: Anaplasma phagocytophilum, which causes the disease tick-borne fever (TBF), is the most important tick-borne pathogen in European animals. TBF may contribute to severe welfare challenges and economic losses in the Norwegian sheep industry. The bacterium causes a persistent infection in sheep and several other animal species. The objective of this study was to investigate whether intrauterine transmission occurs in persistently infected sheep. The study included thirteen 5-6-month-old unmated ewes, of which twelve were experimentally infected with A. phagocytophilum (GenBank acc. no. M73220). Four to six weeks later, all ewes were mated, and nine became pregnant. Blood samples were collected from these ewes and their offspring. If the lamb died, tissue samples were collected. The samples we

SUBMITTER: Stuen S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5876579 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature