CHARACTERIZATION OF ANAPLASMA ISOLATES FROM ELAND (TAUROTRAGUS ORYX) - PATHOGENICITY IN CATTLE AND SHEEP AND DNA PROFILES ANALYSIS

Two eland Anaplasma isolates, Anap(E1), from Kenya, and Anap(E2), from South Africa were characterised, Their characterization was based on their pathogenicity to intact and splenectomized cattle and sheep and also their DNA profiles, Their DNA profiles were analysed and compared to Anaplasma marginale, A. ovis and A. centrale after endonuclease re strictions and probing with Anaplasma DNA probes, AC5-12 and AC-1. The results of the pathogenicity trials showed Anap(E1) to be similar to A. ovis and Anap(E2) an isolate of A. marginale. On DNA profiles, Anap (E1) was close to A. ovis, with differences that occur even in same An aplasma,ta species isolates from different locations. On the other han d, Anap(E2), resembled one of the A. marginale isolates known to occur in South Africa. The DNA profiles correlated well with the pathogenic ity results. It is concluded that elands are carriers of both A. margi nale and A. ovis parasites and are therefore important reservoirs that need attention in epidemiology of anaplasmosis. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sci ence B.V.