A novel candidate species of Anaplasma that infects avian erythrocytes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Anaplasma spp. are Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacteria transmitted by ticks. Even though numerous studies have detected DNA from Anaplasma spp. in the blood of birds, thus far mammals were the only vertebrates demonstrated to serve as competent hosts to these organisms. We report a novel candidate species of Anasplasma that was associated with cytoplasmic inclusions in the erythrocytes of an African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) in South Africa.

Methods

Cytoplasmic inclusions were morphologically characterized from freshly-produced blood smears, and phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA and groEL genes were used to evaluate the evolutionary relationships of the organism to other Anaplasmataceae.

Results

Dark-purple round or oval inclusions consistent

SUBMITTER: Vanstreels RET 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6154407 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature