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Neosporosis and besnoitiosis, caused by cyst-forming protozoa Neospora caninum and Besnoitia besnoiti, respectively, are parasitic infestations of livestock in Israel. These parasites cause significant economic losses in cattle due to reproductive and productive disorders. Both parasites have been detected in several wild ruminant species throughout other regions of the world, while the existence of a sylvatic life cycle in Israel remains uncertain. Thus, a wide panel of 871 sera from two wild carnivores and nine wild ruminant species were tested. All sera were first analysed by MAT for an initial screening and positive samples were confirmed a posteriori by Western blot. Additionally, a complementary IFAT was used for the detection of antibodies against N. caninum. Neospora antibodies were present in six out of the 11 species investigated, whereas Besnoitia antibodies were undetected. Golden jackal, red fox, addax, Arabian oryx, Persian fallow deer, mouflon, mountain gazelle, Nubian ibex, scimitar horned oryx and water buffalo were seropositive against N. caninum infection by IFAT and/or MAT. Moreover, the presence of Neospora spp.-specific antibodies was confirmed by Western blot in golden jackal (6/189; 3.2%), red fox (1/75; 1.3%), Persian fallow deer (13/232; 5.6%), mouflon (1/15; 16.7%), Nubian ibex (22/ 55; 40%) and water buffalo (12/18; 66.7%). Addax (1/49) and water buffalo (1/18) were MAT-seropositive against B. besnoiti but were seronegative by Western blot. Hence, Neospora sylvatic cycle is present in Israel and may cross over to a domestic life cycle. In contrast, wildlife species investigated are unlikely to present a risk of transmitting Besnoitia to livestock in Israel.

The genus Anaplasma (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae) includes several pathogens of veterinary and human medical importance. An understanding of the diversity of Anaplasma major surface proteins (MSPs), including those MSPs that modulate infection, development of persistent infections, and transmission of pathogens by ticks, is derived in part, by characterization and phylogenetic analyses of geographic strains. Information concerning the genetic diversity of Anaplasma spp. MSPs will likely influence the development of serodiagnostic assays and vaccine strategies for the control of anaplasmosis.

The genus Anaplasma (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae) includes several pathogens of veterinary and human medical importance. An understanding of the diversity of Anaplasma major surface proteins (MSPs), including those MSPs that modulate infection, development of persistent infections, and transmission of pathogens by ticks, is derived in part, by characterization and phylogenetic analyses of geographic strains. Information concerning the genetic diversity of Anaplasma spp. MSPs will likely influence the development of serodiagnostic assays and vaccine strategies for the control of anaplasmosis.

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 Anaplasmamarginale (South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Israel, USA, Australia and Uruguay), three A. centrale (South Africa and Japan), two A. ovis (USA and South Africa), and two unknown Anaplasma species isolated from wild ruminants (South Africa), were compared. 16S rDNA maximum-likelihood and distance trees separated all A. marginale (and the two wild ruminant isolates) from the two South 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) phagocytophilum with Ehrlichia (Cowdria) ruminantium and Rickettsiarickettsii 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.

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.