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ABSTRACT: Background
Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) is caused by the tick-borne pathogen Ehrlichia canis, an obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacterium of the family Anaplasmataceae with tropism for canine monocytes and macrophages. The trp36 gene, which encodes for the major immunoreactive protein TRP36 in E. canis, has been successfully used to characterize the genetic diversity of this pathogen in different regions of the world. Based on trp36 sequence analysis, four E. canis genogroups, United States (US), Taiwan (TWN), Brazil (BR) and Costa Rica (CR), have been identified. The aim of this study was to characterize the genetic diversity of E. canis in Cuba based on the trp36 gene.Methods
Whole blood samples (n = 8) were collected from dogs found to be infested with the tick vector Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.) and/or presenting clinical signs and symptoms of CME. Total DNA was extracted from the blood samples and trp36 fragments were amplified by PCR. Nucleotide and protein sequences were compared using alignments and phylogenetic analysis.Results
Four of the trp36 sequences obtained (n = 8) fall within the phylogenetic cluster grouping the US genogroup E. canis strains. The other E. canis trp36 sequences formed a separate and well-supported clade (94% bootstrap value) that is phylogenetically distant from the other major groups and thus represents a new genogroup, herein designated as the 'Cuba (CUB) genogroup'. Notably, dogs infected with the CUB genogroup presented frequent hemorrhagic lesions.Conclusions
The results of this study suggest that genetic diversification of E. canis in Cuba is associated with the emergence of E. canis strains with increased virulence.
SUBMITTER: Navarrete MG
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9396871 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Navarrete Maylin González MG Hodžić Adnan A Corona-González Belkis B Cordeiro Matheus Dias MD da Silva Claudia Bezerra CB Báez Liani Coronado LC Obregón Dasiel D de Aguiar Daniel Moura DM da Silva Campos Amanda Noeli AN Taques Ísis Indaiara Gonçalves Granjeiro ÍIGG Wu-Chuang Alejandra A López Eugenio Roque ER Piloto-Sardiñas Elianne E Abuin-Denis Lianet L da Fonseca Adivaldo Henrique AH Cabezas-Cruz Alejandro A
Parasites & vectors 20220823 1
<h4>Background</h4>Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) is caused by the tick-borne pathogen Ehrlichia canis, an obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacterium of the family Anaplasmataceae with tropism for canine monocytes and macrophages. The trp36 gene, which encodes for the major immunoreactive protein TRP36 in E. canis, has been successfully used to characterize the genetic diversity of this pathogen in different regions of the world. Based on trp36 sequence analysis, four E. canis genogroup ...[more]