Experimental Infection of Mice and Ticks with the Human Isolate of Anaplasma phagocytophilum NY-18

0559812 - BC 2023 RIV CH eng J - Journal Article
Urbanová, Veronika - Kalinová, Eliška - Kopáček, Petr - Šíma, Radek
Experimental Infection of Mice and Ticks with the Human Isolate of Anaplasma phagocytophilum NY-18.
Pathogens. Roč. 11, č. 7 (2022), č. článku 820. E-ISSN 2076-0817
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT(CZ) EF16_019/0000759; GA ČR(CZ) GA20-05736S; GA MZd(CZ) NU20-05-00396
Institutional support: RVO:60077344
Keywords : Anaplasma phagocytophilum * tick * Ixodes ricinus * Ixodes scapularis * transmission * vector competence * animal model * human granulocytic anaplasmosis
OECD category: Microbiology
Impact factor: 3.7, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/11/7/820

Anaplasma phagocytophilum is the causative agent of tick-borne fever (TBF) and human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) and is currently considered an emerging disease in the USA, Europe, and Asia. The increased prevalence of A. phagocytophilum as a human pathogen requires the detailed characterization of human isolates and the implementation of appropriate animal models. In this study, we demonstrated that the dynamics of infection with the human isolate of A. phagocytophilum NY-18 was variable in three different strains of mice (SCID, C3H/HeN, BALB/c). We further evaluated the ability of Ixodes ricinus to acquire and transmit A. phagocytophilum NY-18 and compared it with Ixodes scapularis. Larvae of both tick species effectively acquired the pathogen while feeding on infected mice. The infection rates then decreased during the development to nymphs. Interestingly, molted I. ricinus nymphs were unable to transmit the pathogen to naive mice, which contrasted with I. scapularis. The results of our study suggest that I. ricinus is not a competent vector for the American human Anaplasma isolate. Further studies are needed to establish reliable transmission models for I. ricinus and European human isolate(s) of A. phagocytophilum.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0340444