Anaplasma species infecting questing ticks in the Iberá wetlands ecoregion, Argentina

EBERHARDT, A.T.; MANZOLI, D.E.; FERNANDEZ, C.; ZURVERA, D.; MONJE, L.D.

EXPERIMENTAL AND APPLIED ACAROLOGY

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2023

0168-8162

The present study evaluated the presence of Anaplasma species in questing ticks from sixsites with opposing land usage (i.e., protected natural areas or livestock establishments) withinthe Iberá wetlands ecoregion in Argentina. The ticks were determined as Amblyommadubitatum (n=15,096), Rhipicephalus microplus (n=399), Amblyomma triste (n=134),Haemaphysalis juxtakochi (n=5), and Amblyomma tigrinum (n=1). Using a real-time PCRassay targeting the 16S rRNA gene, Anaplasma sp. was detected in A. dubitatum 1 samples (one nymph, three nymph pools and one larvae pool) and one R. microplus larvae pool. The overall minimum infection rate (MIR) for Anaplasma sp. in questing A. dubitatum nymphs was 0.169% (0.175% in protected natural areas and 0% in livestock establishments). For R. microplus, overall Anaplasma sp. MIR was 0.25% (0.52% in protected natural areas and 0%in livestock establishments). Phylogenetic analysis positioned the Anaplasma sp. from A.dubitatum in the same clade as Anaplasma odocoilei, whereas the Anaplasma sp. from R. microplus was related to Anaplasma platys. In conclusion, these results support a possible role of A. dubitatum in the ecology of the Anaplasma agent reported to infect capybaras in the region.