背景:吞噬细胞无性体的特征是在世界范围内分布,并且与其他无性体科的区别在于最广泛的哺乳动物宿主和高度的遗传多样性。在欧洲,食肉动物在吞噬细胞的生命周期中所起的作用尚不确定。目前,只有红狐狸才被认为是合适的水库宿主。在这项研究中,我们专注于本地和入侵的中型食肉动物物种,它们生活在共生中,代表了波兰最丰富的野生食肉动物物种。
方法:总共275个来自六种食肉动物物种的脾脏样本(Vulpesvulpes,MelesMeles,Procyonlotor,Nyctereutesprocyonoides和Martesspp。)结合巢式PCR和测序来筛选针对部分groEL基因的吞噬细胞。随后通过最大似然法进行系统发育分析。
结果:在275个个体中的16个个体(5.8%)中检测到吞噬细胞的DNA。获得了8种独特的吞噬体。所有检测到的单倍型都聚集在代表欧洲生态型I的进化枝中。三个变体属于欧洲人类病例的亚进化枝,以及来自狗的菌株,狐狸,猫,野猪。
结论:虽然食肉动物由于其相对较低至中等的感染率,在吞噬细胞菌的传播中可能具有有限的作用,它们作为蜱虫的宿主具有重要意义。因此,它们可能间接导致蜱传感染传播给人类,主要是通过蜱感染。这强调了吞噬细胞菌生命周期城市化的潜在风险,进一步强调需要全面了解其生态动态。
BACKGROUND: Anaplasma phagocytophilum is characterized by a worldwide distribution and distinguished from other Anaplasmataceae by the broadest range of mammalian hosts and high genetic diversity. The role carnivores play in the life cycle of A. phagocytophilum in Europe is uncertain. Currently, only the red fox is considered a suitable reservoir host. In this study, we focused on native and invasive medium-sized carnivore species that live in sympatry and represent the most abundant species of wild carnivores in Poland.
METHODS: A total of 275 individual spleen samples from six carnivore species (Vulpes vulpes, Meles meles, Procyon lotor, Nyctereutes procyonoides and Martes spp.) were screened combining nested PCR and sequencing for A. phagocytophilum targeting a partial groEL gene with subsequent phylogenetic analysis inferred by the maximum likelihood method.
RESULTS: The DNA of A. phagocytophilum was detected in 16 of 275 individuals (5.8%). Eight unique genetic variants of A. phagocytophilum were obtained. All detected haplotypes clustered in the clade representing European ecotype I. Three variants belonged to the subclade with European human cases together with strains from dogs, foxes, cats, and wild boars.
CONCLUSIONS: While carnivores might have a restricted role in the dissemination of A. phagocytophilum due to their relatively low to moderate infection rates, they hold significance as hosts for ticks. Consequently, they could contribute to the transmission of tick-borne infections to humans indirectly, primarily through tick infection. This underscores the potential risk of urbanization for the A. phagocytophilum life cycle, further emphasizing the need for comprehensive understanding of its ecological dynamics.