Veterinarska stanica, Vol. 54 No. 2, 2023.
Review article
https://doi.org/10.46419/vs.54.2.10
Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the causative agent of vectorborne emergent zoonoses: a review of epidemiological studies
Krešimir Trninić
; Paying Agency for Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development, Zagreb, Croatia
Denis Cvitković
; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Croatia
Ksenija Vlahović
; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Croatia
Snježana Ćurković
; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Croatia
Žarko Udiljak
; Polyclinic „Sveta Apolonia“, Zagreb, Croatia
Sandra Kunštek
; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Croatia
Marina Pavlak
; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Anaplasmosis is a vector-transmitted zoonosis of public health significance that is classified in the group of emerging diseases. It is caused by the tick-borne species Anaplasma phagocytophilum. It has been proven in 39 countries around the world, including Croatia, and alongside babesiosis is the most important tick-borne disease, causing great economic losses. The established geographical distribution of A. phagocytophilum includes America, Europe, Africa and Asia. However, human diseases occur mainly in North America, while they are rarely reported in Europe and Asia. Epidemiological studies in Europe suggest an increased occupational risk of infection for forestry workers, hunters, veterinarians and farmers living in endemic areas and who have a history of tick bites. Therefore, anaplasmosis is a public health problem. Although the overall genetic diversity of A. phagocytophilum in Europe is higher than in the United States, the strains responsible for human infection are related on both continents. Genetic variability and assessment of differences in pathogenicity and infectivity between strains for different hosts have not been sufficiently investigated to date. Although the number of papers describing the genetic variability of anaplasma is increasing, data is still lacking in order to understand the geographical distribution and susceptibility of hosts to individual strains and the relationship between strain pathogenicity and infectivity for different host species. In Croatia, there are a number of papers dealing with research on vector-borne diseases that are mainly focused on research on domestic animals, especially dogs, while research on populations of wild animals, including wild canids, is sparse. Therefore, further studies are needed to determine the prevalence and distribution of A. phagocytophilum as a vector-borne causative agent in wild canids and their ectoparasites.
Keywords
anaplasmosis in humans and animals; Anaplasma phagocytophilum; emergent
Hrčak ID:
279026
URI
Publication date:
14.8.2022.
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