Phylogenetic analysis of the erythrocytic Anaplasma species based on 16S rDNA and GroEL (HSP 60) sequences of A. marginale, A. centrale, and A. ovis and the specific detection of A. centrale vaccine strain

Abstract

Phenotypic criteria for the identification of erythrocytic ruminant Anaplasma species has relied on subjective identification methods such as host pathogenicity (virulence for cattle or sheep) and/or the location of Anaplasma inclusion bodies within the host's red cells. Sequence comparisons of new and available GenBank Accessions were investigated to elucidate the relationships among these closely related Anaplasma species. Twenty-one 16S rDNA and GroEL (HSP60) sequences from 13 Anaplasma marginale (South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Israel, USA, Australia and Uruguay), 3 A. centrale (S. Africa and Japan), 2 A. ovis (USA and S. Africa), and 2 unknown Anaplasma species isolated from wild ruminants (S. Africa), were compared. 16S rDNA maximum-likelihood and distance trees separated all A. marginale (and the 2 wild ruminant isolates) from the 2 Sth. African A. centrale (including original vaccine strain Theiler 1911). The Japanese A. centrale (Aomori) demonstrated the lowest sequence identity to the remaining erythrocytic Anaplasma species. A. ovis inter-species relationships could not be resolved through the 16S rDNA analyses whereas strong bootstrap branch support is demonstrated in the GroEL distance tree using A. ovis OVI strain. All erythrocytic Anaplasma species and isolates were confirmed to belong to the same cluster showing strong branch support to Anaplasma (Ehrlichia) phagocytophila with Ehrlichia (Cowdria) ruminantium and Rickettsia rickettsii serving as appropriate out-groups. Based on groEL sequences, a specific PCR method was developed which amplified A. centrale vaccine (Theiler, 1911) specifically. This study confirms the suitability of 16S rDNA sequences to define genera and demonstrates the usefulness of GroEL sequences for defining species of erythrocytic Anaplasma.