Granulocytic anaplasmosis - a underdiagnosed disease in veterinary and human medicine in Romania

Abstract

In Europe, including Romania, vector-borne illnesses are widespread. In addition to endangering the health of people and animals, these diseases have a significant impact on the global economy. From October 2022 to September 2023, 25 canine blood samples and 21 human serums were analysed for Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Anaplasma platys, and Borrelia spp. + A. phagocytophilum respectively. Canine samples were analysed using three methods: cytological blood smear, serologic, and molecular, and for human serum, we used two microblot assays for confirmation: Borrelia spp. + A. phagocytophilum IgG antibodies and Borrelia spp. + A. phagocytophilum IgM antibodies. Intracytoplasmic morula was observed in neutrophils in 8/25 (32%) dogs, and Anaplasma antibodies were detected in 11/25 (44%) canine serum. In qRT-PCR, 4/25 (16%) dogs were positive for A. phagocytophilum. According to the microblot assay results, 38.1% of the serum samples were positive for both species - Borrelia and Anaplasma, and 33.4% were positive only for Borrelia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of human granulocytic anaplasmosis cases as well as the prevalence of canine granulocytic anaplasmosis, including the possible co-infections with other pathogens, using several diagnostic methods.