Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Anaplasma marginale”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Ultrastructural aspects of intraerythrocytic development of a Venezuelan strain of Anaplasma marginale.

Blood samples from splenectomized calves infected with a Venezuelan strain of Anaplasma marginale were studied by electron microscope. A. marginale appears to invade erythrocytes by the invagination of the host cell plasma membrane. The parasite reproduces by binary or multiple fission, changing from a rounded to an irregularly polyhedral form during and after division. The mature Anaplasma, within the host red cell modifies the erythrocytes cytoplasma and external membrane producing pores through which the parasite can escape without lysing the host erythrocyte.

Anaplasmataceae↗

Deoxyribonucleic acid of Anaplasma marginale.

Deoxyribonucleic acid from isolated marginal bodies and calf erythrocytes infected with Anaplasma marginale is found to be double stranded and to contain 51 moles per cent guanine plus cytosine.

Anaplasma↗

Immunogenicity of Mycobacterium bovis BCG expressing Anaplasma marginale MSP1a antigen.

Humoral and cellular immune responses of mice inoculated with recombinant Mycobacterium bovis BCG expressing the MSP1a antigen of Anaplasma marginale were evaluated. The msp1a gene was amplified by PCR and cloned into the mycobacterial expression vectors pUS2000 and pMIP12. Immunization of isogenic BALB/c mice with the rBCG/pUS2000-msp1a construct induced significant seroconversion to MSP1a (p<0.001), which was 26 times above pre-immunization levels at day 63 post-initial immunization and which remained stable for the duration of the experiment (6 months). In contrast, rBCG/pMIP12-msp1a induced seroconversion at a level of 6 times above pre-immunization values, which peaked at day 63. Western blot analysis showed that sera derived from mice vaccinated with either rBCG construct recognized both native and recombinant forms of A. marginale MSP1a. In contrast to the humoral response data, immunization with rBCG/pMIP12-msp1a was found to induce a markedly stronger cellular response than that recorded for BCG/pUS2000-msp1a. These observations clearly demonstrated the immunogenicity of recombinant BCG expressing the MSP1a antigen and suggested that the immune responses were influenced by the level of antigen expression. The results of this research warrant studies of recombinant M. bovis BCG expressing MSP1a in cattle to test for protective antibody production for control of bovine anaplasmosis.

Anaplasma marginale↗

Presence of common antigens, including major surface protein epitopes, between the cattle (intraerythrocytic) and tick stages of Anaplasma marginale.

Epitopes of major surface proteins of the intraerythrocytic cattle stage of Anaplasma marginale were demonstrated in the midgut stage of the organism within the infective tick host Dermacentor andersoni. These proteins were common to all A. marginale isolates tested and at all stages of parasitemia. Sera from cattle immunized with the tick midgut stage of A. marginale immunoprecipitated multiple-erythrocyte-stage proteins, as demonstrated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The major proteins recognized (primarily greater than 14 and less than 200 kilodaltons [kDa]) included two major-erythrocyte-stage surface proteins of 36 and 105 kDa molecular size. To confirm the presence of common tick and erythrocyte A. marginale antigens with the immunized cattle sera, we purified the 36-kDa erythrocyte-stage protein by monoclonal immunoaffinity chromatography and developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on the purified protein. All sera from cattle immunized with tick-stage A. marginale and cattle infected with various isolates of A. marginale developed antibodies to the 36-kDa protein. The potential immunoprophylactic, diagnostic, and epidemiologic value of the major epitopes common to both the invertebrate and mammalian stages of A. marginale, especially the 36-kDa protein, is discussed.

Anaplasma↗

Persistence of colonies of Anaplasma marginale in overwintering Dermacentor variabilis.

Dermacentor variabilis were infected as nymphs with Anaplasma marginale by allowing the ticks to feed on a single infected donor calf. Two weeks after molting to the adult stage, the ticks were allotted into 1 of 3 groups and were allowed to overwinter at room temperature (25 C) in the laboratory (group 1), cold storage (4.5 C) in the laboratory (group 2), or outdoors in leaf litter (group 3). Persistence of A marginale was assessed by determining density of colonies (number of colonies/0.1 mm2 of gut tissue examined) in tick gut specimens at 3, 5, 7, 9, and 12 months after molting to the adult stage. Colonies of A marginale were found in all groups at every density evaluation period. Highest colony densities were observed uniformly in specimens collected at month 7 (May); densities decreased at month 9 and were lowest at month 12. Statistical analysis indicated that ticks subjected to cold storage and to outdoor conditions had similar colony densities of A marginale; the density curve in these 2 groups indicated significant quadratic effects over time, with peak densities in May. Mean colony density in ticks kept at room temperature fit a different quadratic equation. The morphologic data indicated that A marginale overwinters in Dermacentor variabilis, and that increasing numbers of organisms are found from January to May.

Anaplasma↗

Development of Anaplasma marginale in salivary glands of male Dermacentor andersoni.

Development of the rickettsia, Anaplasma marginale, in salivary glands of male Dermacentor andersoni exposed as nymphs or adult ticks, was studied indirectly by inoculation of susceptible calves with homogenates and directly by examination, using light microscopy and a DNA probe; some unfed ticks were incubated before tissues were collected. Salivary gland homogenates made from ticks in every treatment group caused anaplasmosis when injected into susceptible calves; prepatent periods decreased as the time that ticks had fed increased. Colonies of A marginale were seen only in salivary glands of ticks exposed as adults and not in those exposed as nymphs; the percentage of salivary gland acini infected in these ticks increased linearly with feeding time. However, the probe detected A marginale DNA in salivary glands of ticks from both groups; the amount of DNA detected increased as feeding time was extended. The amount of A marginale DNA appeared to remain constant in gut tissues, but to increase in salivary glands. Salivary glands of adult-infected male ticks that were incubated, but did not feed a second time, became infected with A marginale, and the pattern of infection of acini varied with incubation temperature. Development of A marginale in salivary glands appears to be coordinated with the tick feeding cycle; highest infection rate was observed in ticks exposed as adults.

Anaplasma↗

Susceptibility of elk (Cervus elaphus) to experimental infection with Anaplasma marginale and A. ovis.

Anaplasma ovis was experimentally transmitted from domestic sheep to elk (Cervus elaphus) and back to splenectomized sheep. No rickettsemias were detected but serum from three of seven experimentally inoculated elk developed Anaplasma spp.-reactive antibody as measured by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) or by the rapid card agglutination and complement fixation assays. Three elk were experimentally infected with A. marginale. The rickettsiae were detected in blood of these elk and caused disease in a splenectomized domestic bovine calf after subinoculation of blood from the elk. All three elk had positive titers with IIF. No clinical signs of illness were noted in any elk inoculated with either Anaplasma species.

Anaplasma↗

Detection of Anaplasma marginale DNA in larvae of Boophilus microplus ticks by polymerase chain reaction.

Boophilus microplus larvae from two different sources were used for the detection of Anaplasma marginale DNA: larvae A, which were collected from a pasture of an endemic farm, and larvae B, which originated from engorged female ticks fed on calves with no clinical signs of disease and with low rickettsemia (approximately 0.01 to 1.0%). Larvae A were collected monthly, from January to May in 2001. Two hundred engorged female ticks fed on calves that provided larvae B were divided into groups of 10 and kept in a controlled environment at either 18 degrees C or 28 degrees C. Fifty larvae were used from each sample for DNA extraction, and 5 muL of DNA were submitted to amplification of the sequence of msp5 gene of A. marginale by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Seven out of 50 samples of larvae A (14%) were positive for the presence of DNA of A. marginale showing amplified product of 457 bp. Ten out of 91 samples of larvae B (11%) kept at 18 degrees C were positive, and all larvae B at 28 degrees C were negative. Thus, this study confirmed the presence of A. marginale DNA in B. microplus larvae by PCR. The EcoRI restriction enzyme analysis confirmed the specificity of the amplicon, which resulted in two fragments: 265 bp and 192 bp. The sequencing analysis of the amplicon from larvae demonstrated 98% homology with the msp5 sequence from Florida A. marginale strain.

Anaplasma marginale↗

Evolution and function of tandem repeats in the major surface protein 1a of the ehrlichial pathogen Anaplasma marginale.

The major surface protein (MSP) 1a of the ehrlichial cattle pathogen Anaplasma marginale, encoded by the single-copy gene msp1alpha, has been shown to have a neutralization-sensitive epitope and to be an adhesin for bovine erythrocytes and tick cells. msp1alpha has been found to be a stable genetic marker for the identification of geographic isolates of A. marginale throughout development in acutely and persistently infected cattle and in ticks. The molecular weight of MSP1a varies among geographic isolates of A. marginale because of a varying number of tandemly repeated peptides of 28-29 amino acids. Variation in the sequence of the tandem repeats occurs within and among isolates, and may have resulted from evolutionary pressures exerted by ligand-receptor and host-parasite interactions. These repeated sequences include markers for tick transmissibility that may be important in the identification of ehrlichial pathogens because they may influence control strategies and the design of subunit vaccines.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Immunocytochemical labeling of Anaplasma marginale Theiler in Dermacentor andersoni Stiles with peroxidase- antiperoxidase technique.

Colonies of Anaplasma marginale in midgut epithelial cells of adult ticks that had been infected as nymphs were specifically labeled, using the unlabeled antibody peroxidase-antiperoxidase method of immunocytochemistry. Visual comparison of infected and control tissue sections with the electron microscope demonstrated deposition of ring-like peroxidase-antiperoxidase complexes over organisms within the colonies. The intensity of labeling differed among organisms within a single colony, possibly as a result of varying antigenicity. The labeling observed on organisms in the colonies was similar to that seen on anaplasmal initial bodies in inclusions of infected bovine erythrocytes examined concurrently.

Anaplasma↗

Morphologic characteristics of colonies of Anaplasma marginale Theiler in midgut epithelial cells of Dermacentor andersoni Stiles.

Colonies of Anaplasma marginale Theiler were studied in midgut epithelial cells of adult Dermacentor andersoni Stiles that were infected as nymphs. Colonies were categorized by light microscopy into 5 morphologic types that appear to represent stages in a developmental sequence. The mean diameter of the colony types ranged from 5.64 micrometer to type 1 colonies to 10.49 micrometers of type 5 colonies. Representatives of each colony type were selected by light microscopy and were sectioned for examination by electron microscopy. The morphologic features of individual A marginale organisms within colony types varied and included: (i) small electron-dense forms, (ii) larger reticulated forms, (iii) pleomorphic reticulated forms, and (iv) small particles. Types 1 and 2 colonies contained small, electron-dense forms. Type 3 colonies contained electron-dense forms, early reticulated forms, and small particles that were often outside of the parasite's limiting membrane. Type 4 colonies contained many reticulated forms that often had small particles within cell membranes. Type 5 colonies contained fewer well-formed reticulated forms than did type 4 and, in some cases, large masses of pleomorphic reticulated forms.

Anaplasma↗

Anaplasma marginale (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae): recent advances in defining host-pathogen adaptations of a tick-borne rickettsia.

The tick-borne intracellular pathogen Anaplasma marginale (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae) develops persistent infections in cattle and tick hosts. While erythrocytes appear to be the only site of infection in cattle, A. marginale undergoes a complex developmental cycle in ticks and transmission occurs via salivary glands during feeding. Many geographic isolates occur that vary in genotype, antigenic composition, morphology and infectivity for ticks. In this chapter we review recent research on the host-vector-pathogen interactions of A. marginale. Major surface proteins (MSPs) play a crucial role in the interaction of A. marginale with host cells. The MSP1a protein, which is an adhesin for bovine erythrocytes and tick cells, is differentially regulated and affects infection and transmission of A. marginale by Dermacentor spp. ticks. MSP2 undergoes antigenic variation and selection in cattle and ticks, and contributes to the maintenance of persistent infections. Phylogenetic studies of A. marginale geographic isolates using msp4 and msp1alpha provide information about the biogeography and evolution of A. marginale: msp1alpha genotypes evolve under positive selection pressure. Isolates of A. marginale are maintained by independent transmission events and a mechanism of infection exclusion in cattle and ticks allows for only the infection of one isolate per animal. Prospects for development of control strategies by use of pathogen and tick-derived antigens are discussed. The A. marginale/vector/host studies described herein could serve as a model for research on other tick-borne rickettsiae.

Anaplasma marginale↗

Clinical chemistry of anaplasmosis: comparative serum protein changes elicited by attenuated and virulent Anaplasma marginale isolates.

In a comparative study of the clinical chemical changes during Anaplasma marginale infection, 16 intact mature cows were infected with either of 2 virulent isolates. Eight others were treated with a live A marginale vaccine (sheep-attenuated) and 7 were maintained as controls. Before and during patency, samples of blood from the cows were analyzed for total WBC, parasitemia, card test titer (CTT), total protein, albumin, and globulin fractions. In the cows inoculated with virulent isolates, albumin was significantly depressed throughout patency, whereas gamma-globulins and WBC were increased after peak parasitemia, as well as during recovery. The CTT was highest immediately after peak parasitemia. A significant increase was not observed in beta-globulin. Seven of the 16 infected cows died, but no consistent patterns of change in serum protein fractions or WBC could be associated with mortality. The 8 cows vaccinated with the attenuated isolate showed a significant mean decrease in albumin throughout patency, but no significant mean increase in alpha- or beta-globulin. A mean increase in gamma-globulin was observed only during the recovery period. The CTT increased gradually throughout patency, peaking during the recovery period. A significant mean increase over control in WBC count was observed only during rising parasitemia.

Anaplasmosis↗

Capillary tube feeding system for studying tick-pathogen interactions of Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae) and Anaplasma marginale (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae).

A capillary tube feeding (CTF) system was adapted for studying the interaction between Dermacentor variabilis (Say) and the rickettsial cattle pathogen Anaplasma marginale Theiler. A. marginale undergoes a complex developmental cycle in ticks that begins in midguts and ends by transmission from salivary glands. In this CTF system, male D. variabilis were fed A. marginale-infected blood or cultured tick cells. Ticks that fed on highly rickettsemic calves developed midgut and salivary gland infections as detected by PCR, whereas ticks that were fed from capillary tubes on the same blood developed only midgut infections. An unexpected result of capillary tube feeding was that antibodies against the A. marginale adhesin, major surface protein la, enhanced midgut infections and caused cell culture-derived A. marginale to infect midguts. Another unexpected result was the infection of the midguts of the nonvector tick Amblyomma americanum (L.), after capillary tube feeding on infected bovine blood. The gut cell response of ticks to A. marginale, as determined from SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis protein profiles, did not differ when ticks were fed infected or uninfected cells from capillary tubes. Selected protein bands, as identified by tryptic digestion-mass spectrometry, contained mostly proteins of bovine origin, including bovine albumin, undigested alpha- and beta-chain hemoglobin and hemoglobin fragments. Although infection of ticks by A. marginale CTF system was not the same as infection by feeding on cattle, the results obtained demonstrated the potential use of this system for identifying aspects of pathogen-vector interactions that are not readily recognized in naturally feeding ticks.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using solubilised antigen for detection of antibodies to Anaplasma marginale.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect antibodies against Anaplasma marginale. A marginale bodies were separated from parasitised erythrocytes by a modified nitrogen decompression method, sonicated, then solubilised with Triton X-100 and used as the ELISA antigen. In this ELISA system the required amount of antigen protein was 16.2 ng for each well. In the course of experimental infections, of calves, significant antibody levels were detected by ELISA and the complement fixation test (CFT) at almost the same time. Antibodies against A. marginale were detectable for longer periods using the ELISA than using the CFT. Sera from calves infected with Babesia bigemina, B. bovis, B. ovata, Theileria sergenti and Eperythrozoon wenyoni gave no reaction; however, antisera against A. centrale did react with the A. marginale ELISA antigen.

Anaplasma↗

Synthesis of DNA and protein by Anaplasma marginale in bovine erythrocytes during short-term culture.

Bovine erythrocytes infected with Anaplasma marginale were cultured for 1 to 5 days in a CO2 incubation chamber, pulse-labeled with [3H]thymidine and [14C]methionine, lysed, and fractionated by differential centrifugation and continuous density gradient centrifugation in Renografin. Anaplasma and associated fragments of stroma formed two distinct bands in the dense region of the gradient. Electron microscopic examination of pelleted material from the bands from cells cultured for 1 day revealed the presence of organisms that were morphologically intact or in various states of degeneration. Examination of fractions from the gradient for incorporation of label revealed that analplasma present in erythrocytes can incorporate both [3H]thymidine and [14C]methionine. Subsequent experiments demonstrated that organisms cultured for 3 and 5 days incorporated the radiolabeled compounds also, but to a lesser extent. The experiments demonstrate that it is possible to culture analplasma in vitro for short periods of time and monitor their growth characteristics.

Anaplasma↗

The CD4+ T cell immunodominant Anaplasma marginale major surface protein 2 stimulates gammadelta T cell clones that express unique T cell receptors.

Major surface protein 2 (MSP2) of the bovine rickettsial pathogen Anaplasma marginale is an abundant, serologically immunodominant outer membrane protein. Immunodominance partially results from numerous CD4+ T cell epitopes in highly conserved amino and carboxy regions and the central hypervariable region of MSP2. However, in long-term cultures of lymphocytes stimulated with A. marginale, workshop cluster 1 (WC1)+ gammadelta T cells and CD4+ alphabeta T cells proliferated, leading to a predominance of gammadelta T cells. As gammadelta T cells proliferate in A. marginale-stimulated lymphocyte cultures, this study hypothesized that gammadelta T cells respond to the abundant, immunodominant MSP2. To test this hypothesis, gammadelta T cell clones were isolated from MSP2 vaccinates and assessed for antigen-specific proliferation and interferon-gamma secretion. Seven WC1+ gammadelta T cell clones responded to A. marginale and MSP2, and three of these proliferated to overlapping peptides from the conserved carboxy region. The gammadelta T cell response was not major histocompatibility complex-restricted, although it required antigen-presenting cells and was blocked by addition of antibody specific for the T cell receptor (TCR). Sequence analysis of TCR-gamma and -delta chains of peripheral blood lymphocytes identified two novel TCR-gamma chain constant (Cgamma) regions. It is important that all seven MSP2-specific gammadelta T cell clones used the same one of these novel Cgamma regions. The TCR complementarity-determining region 3 was less conserved than those of MSP2-specific CD4+ alphabeta T cell clones. Together, these data indicate that WC1+ gammadelta T cells recognize A. marginale MSP2 through the TCR and contribute to the immunodominant response to this protein.

Anaplasma marginale↗

The immunoprotective Anaplasma marginale major surface protein 2 is encoded by a polymorphic multigene family.

An Anaplasma marginale Florida msp-2 gene was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and Southern blot analysis revealed the presence of multiple msp-2 gene copies that were widely distributed throughout the chromosomes of all three strains examined. Genomic polymorphism among copies was greatest in the 5' end of msp-2 but also occurred in 3' regions. The presence of gene-copy-specific epitopes was indicated by the reactivity of the cloned msp-2 copy with some, but not all, monoclonal antibodies that bound native MSP-2. Multiple antigenically distinct MSP-2 molecules were expressed within strains and were coexpressed by individual A. marginale organisms. These results suggest that expression of polymorphic msp-2 gene copies is responsible for the significant percentages of A. marginale organisms within strains that do not react with individual anti-MSP-2 monoclonal antibodies. Sequence analysis revealed highly significant MSP-2 homology with two rickettsial surface proteins, A. marginale MSP-4 and Cowdria ruminantium MAP-1. Immunization with MSP-4 has been shown to induce protective immunity in a manner similar to that of immunization with MSP-2. These findings support the hypothesis that A. marginale surface proteins are targets of protective immune responses but are antigenically polymorphic.

Amino Acid Sequence↗