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This study aimed to characterize infection with Anaplasma marginale, A. phagocytophilum, A. ovis, and A. platys in humans, animals, and ticks in Sicily, Italy, during 2003–2006. Serologic (competitive ELISA [cELISA]) and indirect immunofluorescence antibody [IFA]; N= 1990) and DNA (polymerase chain reaction [PCR]; N= 2788) tests were conducted on horse, donkey, cattle, sheep, goat, pig, dog, cat, roe deer, wild boar, human, and tick samples. The results reported herein suggested that in Sicily cattle are a major reservoir for A. marginale, dogs for A. platys, and sheep and goats for A. ovis. Domestic animals, such as cattle, horses, donkeys, sheep, dogs, and cats, may serve as reservoir for A. phagocytophilum, but different strains may infect ruminants and humans. All Anaplasma spp. characterized in Sicily had some distinctive genotypes for this region. Low genetic diversity was observed in A. ovis and A. platys, whereas A. marginale and A. phagocytophilum strains showed high genetic diversity. These results expanded our knowledge about the prevalence of Anaplasma spp. in Sicily and provided information to understand the epidemiology of these infections and implement measures to diagnose, treat, and control transmission to humans and animals in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to characterize the observed prevalence of tick-borne pathogens (TBP) in domestic animals in Sicily, Italy during 2003–2005. Serological (competitive ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence antibody, n = 3299) and DNA tests (polymerase chain reaction and reverse line blot, n = 2565) were conducted on horse, donkey, cattle, sheep, goat, pig and dog samples. Pathogens analysed included Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, Babesia and Theileria species, and Coxiella burnetii. The most prevalent TBP were Anaplasma and Babesia species. The results reported herein suggested that cattle could serve as the major reservoir for Babesia and Theileria spp. while for Anaplasma spp. cattle, dogs, sheep and goats may be the most important reservoir species. These results expanded our knowledge about the prevalence of TBP in Sicily and provided information to understand the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases and may help to implement measures to diagnose, treat and control transmission to humans and animals in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine anaplasmosis, caused by the tick-borne rickettsia Anaplasma marginale, is endemic in Sicily and results in economic loss to the cattle industry. This study was designed to characterize strains of A. marginale at the molecular level from cattle in the Province of Palermo, Sicily. Seropositivity of cattle ≥1 year old for A. marginale in the study area ranged from 62% to 100%. The observed prevalence of A. marginale infections in cattle herds ranged from 25% to 100%. Two predominant A. marginale msp4 genotypes were found. A positive correlation was found between the prevalence of infection and the presence of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus. Phylogenetic analysis of msp4 sequences of European strains of A. marginale did not provide phylogeographical information. These results suggest that development of farm husbandry systems and vaccines for genetically heterogeneous populations of A. marginale are needed for control of anaplasmosis in this region of Sicily. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia and Babesia/ Theileria species was analysed in questing and feeding adult ticks in Sicily. A total of 678 ticks were collected and analysed in this study. Of these, 29 were questing ticks and 649 were collected from infested cattle, sheep, goats or dogs. Tick species analysed included Rhipicephalus bursa, R. turanicus, R. sanguineus, Hyalomma lusitanicum, H. marginatum, Dermacentor marginatus, Ixodes ricinus, R. (Boophilus) annulatus and Haemaphysalis punctata. With the exception of R. annulatus and H. punctata for which only eight and 15 ticks were analysed, respectively, all tick species were found to be infected. Most ticks were found to be infected with a single pathogen genus. Data obtained from questing ticks was analysed to test for differences between tick species in the prevalence of infection for different pathogens. These preliminary results suggested that the most important vectors of pathogens that may affect human and/or animal health in Sicily are R. turanicus for Anaplasma spp. and D. marginatus for Rickettsia spp. For Ehrlichia spp. and Babesia/ Theileria spp., R. turanicus/ D. marginatus and H. lusitanicum may be the most important vectors but additional studies are needed to confirm these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study carried out to examine the presence of Anaplasma species in Sicily, Itlay and correlate the data with the habitat suitability (HS) for ticks. It states that the genus Anaplasma comprises of tick-transmitted pathogens like Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma ovis which affect the human and animal health. The study conducted on the samples obtained from animals revealed that Anaplasma marginale was found in cattle and Anaplasma ovis was found in goats and sheep.