Exploration of geographical population structure of Anaplasma phagocytophilum: Insights from 12 newly sequenced European human and bovine genome assemblies. - 2026
Exploration of geographical population structure of Anaplasma phagocytophilum: Insights from 12 newly sequenced European human and bovine genome assemblies.
Rouxel, Clotilde; Deshuillers, Pierre Lucien; Vila-Nova, Merylet al.
2026 • In Current research in parasitology and vector-borne diseases, 9, p. 100393
[en] Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an obligate intracellular tick-borne bacterium widely distributed across the northern hemisphere. It is the causative agent of tick-borne fever in ruminants and human granulocytic anaplasmosis. The epidemiology of A. phagocytophilum infection differs markedly between the USA and Europe. In the USA, human granulocytic anaplasmosis represents an increasing public health concern, whereas infections in ruminants are rarely reported. In contrast, in Europe only sporadic human cases have been described, while infections in ruminants cause significant economic losses. Previous genomic studies based on limited datasets suggested genetic divergence between USA and European strains, but the small number of available genomes, particularly from Europe, limited robust conclusions. In this study, we report 12 new European A. phagocytophilum genomes, including four human-derived genomes and eight genomes from cattle. Using a capture-based short-read sequencing approach, we doubled the number of publicly available European genomes. In addition, systematic quality assessment of these public assemblies revealed variable genome completeness and the presence of contamination in several genomes. After curation of these datasets and inclusion of our 12 new sequenced genomes, comparative genomic analyses were performed using phylogenetic and population genetic approaches. Our results confirm a marked genetic divergence between European and USA strains. Hence, the capture-based short-read sequencing can be performed on samples from naturally infected humans and ruminants to increase the representation of European genomes, particularly human isolates, confirming A. phagocytophilum population structure patterns previously inferred from limited gene-based and provide new potential genomic markers that may help identify lineages associated with zoonotic transmission.
Disciplines :
Veterinary medicine & animal health
Author, co-author :
Rouxel, Clotilde ; ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort (EnvA), Laboratoire de Santé Animale, BIPAR, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
Deshuillers, Pierre Lucien ; ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort (EnvA), Laboratoire de Santé Animale, BIPAR, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
Vila-Nova, Meryl; ANSES, Laboratoire de Sécurité Alimentaire, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, SPAAD, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
Merda, Deborah; ANSES, Laboratoire de Sécurité Alimentaire, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, SPAAD, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
Boyer, Pierre; Université de Strasbourg, UR3073 PHAVI, CHRU de Strasbourg, Instituts de Bactériologie et de Parasitologie, 3, rue Koeberlé, Strasbourg, F-67000, France ; CNR des Borrelia, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, F-67000, France
Jaulhac, Benoit; Université de Strasbourg, UR3073 PHAVI, CHRU de Strasbourg, Instituts de Bactériologie et de Parasitologie, 3, rue Koeberlé, Strasbourg, F-67000, France ; CNR des Borrelia, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, F-67000, France
Saegerman, Claude ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des maladies infectieuses et parasitaires (DMI) > Epidémiologie, analyse de risques et biosécurité appliquées aux sciences vétérinaires
Delooz, Laurent ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH) ; Regional Association for Animal Registration and Health (ARSIA) asbl, Ciney, 5590, Belgium
Kuntz, Grégoire; Innoval, GDS Bretagne, Ploufragan, 22 440, France
Boulouis, Henri-Jean; ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort (EnvA), Laboratoire de Santé Animale, BIPAR, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
Haddad, Nadia; ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort (EnvA), Laboratoire de Santé Animale, BIPAR, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
Lagrée, Anne-Claire ; ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort (EnvA), Laboratoire de Santé Animale, BIPAR, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
Chesnais, Virginie ; ANSES, Laboratoire de Sécurité Alimentaire, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, SPAAD, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
Exploration of geographical population structure of Anaplasma phagocytophilum: Insights from 12 newly sequenced European human and bovine genome assemblies.
Publication date :
2026
Journal title :
Current research in parasitology and vector-borne diseases
This work was supported by the French Government's Investment for the Future program as a Laboratory of Excellence in \u201CIntegrative Biology of Emerging Infectious Diseases\u201D (grant No. ANR-10-LABEX-62-IBEID). The Animal Health Department of INRAe supported specifically the sequencing of bovine samples.This work was supported by the French Government\u2019s Investment for the Future program as a Laboratory of Excellence in \u201C Integrative Biology of Emerging Infectious Diseases \u201D (grant No. ANR-10-LABEX-62-IBEID ). The Animal Health Department of INRAe supported specifically the sequencing of bovine samples.
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