Abstract:
Organisms in the genus Anaplasma are obligate intracellular alphaproteobacteria. Bovine anaplasmosis, predominantly
caused by Anaplasma marginale, is the most prevalent tick-borne disease (TBD) of cattle worldwide.
Other Anaplasma species are known to cause disease; these include A. ovis, A. platys in dogs, A. capra in goats and
humans, and A. phagocytophilum in humans. The rapid advancement of next-generation sequencing technologies
has led to the discovery of many novel sequences ascribed to the genus Anaplasma, with over 20 putative new
species being proposed since the last formal organization of the genus. Most 16S rRNA gene surveys for Anaplasma
were conducted on cattle and to a lesser extent on rodents, dogs, and ticks. Little is known about the
occurrence, diversity, or impact of Anaplasma species circulating in wildlife species. Therefore, we conducted a
16S rRNA gene survey with the goal of identifying Anaplasma species in a variety of wildlife species in the Kruger
National Park and neighbouring game reserves, using an unbiased 16S rRNA gene microbiome approach. An
Anaplasma/Ehrlichia-group specific quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay revealed the presence of Anaplasma
and/or Ehrlichia species in 70.0% (21/30) of African buffalo, 86.7% (26/30) of impala, 36.7% (11/30) of greater
kudu, 3.2% (1/31) of African wild dog, 40.6% (13/32) of Burchell’s zebra, 43.3% (13/30) of warthog, 22.6% (7/
31) of spotted hyena, 40.0% (12/30) of leopard, 17.6% (6/34) of lion, 16.7% (5/30) of African elephant and
8.6% (3/35) of white rhinoceros samples. Microbiome sequencing data from the qPCR positive samples revealed
four 16S rRNA sequences identical to previously published Anaplasma sequences, as well as nine novel Anaplasma
16S genotypes. Our results reveal a greater diversity of putative Anaplasma species circulating in wildlife than
currently classified within the genus. Our findings highlight a potential expansion of the Anaplasma host range
and the need for more genetic information from other important genes or genome sequencing of putative novel
species for correct classification and further assessment of their occurrence in wildlife, livestock and companion
animals.
