RENO, Nev. – The search for answers to protect Central American frogs from extinction is also giving scientists clues on how to predict and respond to emerging diseases and epidemics in humans, plants and other wildlife.
Deer species play an important role in the enzootic cycles of several Anaplasma species. While in the Northern Hemisphere ticks of genus Ixodes are well recognized vectors of these intracellular bacteria, less is known regarding the biological cycles of Anaplasma spp. in South America. Using PCR protocols and Sanger sequencing, we assessed the presence of Anaplasma spp. in blood and ticks collected on a native deer species (Pudu puda) from southern Chile. Based on phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA, gltA and groEL genes and calculation of average sequence divergence for groEL, our results bring to light a novel genovariant of Anaplasma phagocytophilum (named strain “Patagonia”). The strain represents a novel ecotype within the A. phagocytophilum species complex and was detected in both P. puda and their ticks. Using a larger matrix, denser taxon sampling and outgroup, our maximum-likelihood- and Bayesian-inferred phylogenies for groEL provide an accurate picture of the t