Detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Amblyomma flavomaculatum ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) collected from lizard Varanus exanthematicus imported to Poland

Abstract

Adults and nymphs of Amblyomma exornatum, A. flavomaculatum, A. latum, Amblyomma spp. and Hyalomma aegyptium, were collected from savannah monitors, royal python (Africa, Ghana) and marginated tortoises (Europe, Greece) imported to Poland, in 2004-2007. Altogether 345 ticks were examined by polymerase chain reaction for rickettsial agents. None of the tested ticks was positive for the gltA gene of Rickettsia spp. DNA of 16S rRNA gene from Anaplasma phagocytophilum was amplified and sequenced from two adult A. flavomaculatum ticks attached to two different specimens Varanus exanthematicus from Ghana. Both PCR amplicons obtained (GQ305134) had 100% sequence homology with A. phagocytophilum sequences deposited in GenBank. This results suggests for the first time that A. flavomaculatum may be vector of this pathogen in Africa. It could be expected that ticks distributed on their hosts may introduce pathogens not yet known to Polish or even European fauna. This study contributes to the overall recognition of the scarcely explored fauna of the exotic ticks transferred to Poland on reptiles from remote destinations.