Molecular Detection of a New <i>Anaplasma</i> Species Closely Related to <i>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</i> in Canine Blood from South Africa

Abstract

Canine DNA samples from South Africa were found to contain 16S rRNA gene nucleotide and citrate synthase gene nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences that were most similar to Anaplasma phagocytophilum: 98%, 66%, and 69% similarity, respectively. This suggests that a new Anaplasma species closely related to A. phagocytophilum occurs in Africa.