Research article

Geographic distribution and genetic diversity of the Ehrlichia sp. from Panola Mountain in Amblyomma americanum

Amanda D Loftis^1,9 , Tonya R Mixson¹ , Ellen Y Stromdahl² , Michael J Yabsley^3,4 , Laurel E Garrison⁵ , Phillip C Williamson⁶ , Robert R Fitak⁷ , Paul A Fuerst⁷ , Daryl J Kelly⁷ and Keith W Blount⁸

¹Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA

²U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, Entomological Sciences Program, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5403, USA

³Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA

⁴Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA

⁵Georgia Division of Public Health, Atlanta, GA 30303-3186, USA

⁶DNA/Identity Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Human Identification, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Ft. Worth, TX 76107-2699, USA

⁷Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210-1293, USA

⁸Air Force Research Laboratory, Brooks City-Base, TX 78235, USA

⁹266 N. Lincoln St., Laramie, WY 82070, USA

author email corresponding author email

BMC Infectious Diseases 2008, 8:54doi:10.1186/1471-2334-8-54

Published:	23 April 2008

Abstract

Background

A novel Ehrlichia, closely related to Ehrlichia ruminantium, was recently discovered from Panola Mountain State Park, GA, USA. We conducted a study to determine if this agent was recently introduced into the United States.

Methods

We developed a sensitive PCR assay based on the conserved gltA (citrate synthase) gene and tested DNA samples extracted from 1964 field-collected and 1835 human-biting Amblyomma americanum from 23 eastern states of the USA.

Results

The novel agent was detected in 36 ticks collected from 10 states between 1998 and 2006. Infected ticks were collected both from vegetation (n = 14, 0.7%) and from humans (n = 22, 1.2%). Fragments of the conserved gltA gene and the variable map1 gene were sequenced from positive samples. Two distinct clades, with 10.5% nucleic acid divergence over the 730 bp map1 sequence, were identified.

Conclusion

These data suggest that the Panola Mountain Ehrlichia was not recently introduced to the United States; this agent has an extensive distribution throughout the range of its tick vector, has been present in some locations for several years, and displays genetic variability. Furthermore, people in several states were exposed to this agent through the bite of infected ticks, underscoring the potential public health risk of this emerging ehrlichiosis.