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Anaplasma phagocytophilum Human Agent Variant Detected in Asian Longhorned Ticks

Longhorned Ticks. Photo by James Occi, (PhD cand.) LDA Scientific & Professional Advisory Board
Longhorned Ticks. Photo by James Occi, (PhD cand.) LDA Scientific & Professional Advisory Board

In a newly published US study, Anaplasma phagocytophilum–human agent variant has been detected for the first time in the highly invasive Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis). Active tick surveillance was conducted throughout Pennsylvania during the time period of May 1 through Sept. 6, 2019. Researchers  tested 265 ticks for rickettsial pathogens through PCR testing and 1.5% of these ticks were positive for A. phagocytophilum. Two were confirmed positive as A. phagocytophilum–human agent variant through sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene. 

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Additional LDA articles on Asian longhorned tick pathogens can be found here