Journal article
Tick-borne transmission of two genetically distinct Anaplasma marginale strains following superinfection of the mammalian reservoir host
Infection and immunity, Vol.76(9), pp.4066-4070
09/2008
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/105419
PMCID: PMC2519422
PMID: 18573892
Abstract
Strain superinfection affects the dynamics of epidemiological spread of pathogens through a host population. Superinfection has recently been shown to occur for two genetically distinct strains of the tick-borne pathogen Anaplasma marginale that encode distinctly different surface protein variants. Superinfected animals could serve as a reservoir for onward transmission of both strains if the tick vector is capable of acquiring and transmitting both strains. Whether competition among strains during development within the tick vector, which requires sequential invasion and replication events, limits colonization and subsequent transmission to a single strain is unknown. We tested this possibility by acquisition feeding Dermacentor andersoni ticks on a reservoir host superinfected with the genetically distinct St. Maries and EMPhi strains. Although the St. Maries strain consistently maintained higher bacteremia levels in the mammalian host and the EMPhi strain had an early advantage in colonization of the tick salivary glands, individual ticks were coinfected, and there was successful transmission of both strains. These results indicate that a genetically distinct A. marginale strain capable of superinfecting the mammalian host can subsequently be cotransmitted and become established within the host population despite the presence of an existing established strain.
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Details
- Title
- Tick-borne transmission of two genetically distinct Anaplasma marginale strains following superinfection of the mammalian reservoir host
- Creators
- Christina K Leverich - Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Program in Vector-borne Diseases, School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-7040, USAGuy H PalmerDonald P Knowles, JrKelly A Brayton
- Publication Details
- Infection and immunity, Vol.76(9), pp.4066-4070
- Academic Unit
- Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Department of; Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health
- Publisher
- United States
- Grant note
- R37 AI044005 / NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI044005 / NIAID NIH HHS AI44005 / NIAID NIH HHS
- Identifiers
- 99900546507701842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article