Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link

Disclaimer: Early release articles are not considered as final versions. Any changes will be reflected in the online version in the month the article is officially released.

Volume 32, Number 10—October 2026

Research

Detection of Anaplasma capra in Patients with Suspected Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, Turkey, 2022

Kursat Altay1, Nazif Elaldi1Comments to Author , Ufuk Erol, Binnur Koksal, Omer Faruk Sahin, Ayse Nur Pektas, Seyit Ali Buyuktuna, Murtaza Oz, Yasemin Cakır Kıymaz, Tuba Nur Tasseten, Husnu Furkan Sakar, and Mehmet Bakir
Author affiliation: Sivas Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sivas, Turkey (K. Altay, U. Erol, O.F. Sahin, H.F. Sakar); Sivas Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine, Sivas (N. Elaldi, S.A. Buyuktuna, M. Oz, Y. Cakır Kıymaz); Sivas Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Health Sciences, Sivas (B. Koksal); Sivas Cumhuriyet University Advanced Technology Application and Research Center, Sivas (A.N. Pektas); Sivas Cumhuriyet University Institute of Science, Sivas (T.N. Tasseten); Medicana Sivas Hospital, Sivas (M. Bakir).

Main Article

Figure 3

Phylogenetic tree of groEL gene sequences from Anaplasma capra genotype 1, genotype 2, and other Anaplasma species from patients with suspected or confirmed Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Turkey, 2022. We constructed the tree by using the maximum-likelihood method in MEGA 11 (25). Rickettsia conorii subspecies raoultii was used as the outgroup. Study sequences are underlined. GenBank accession numbers are provided. Scale bar represents nucleotide substitutions per site.

Figure 3. Phylogenetic tree of groEL gene sequences from Anaplasma capra genotype 1, genotype 2, and other Anaplasma species from patients with suspected or confirmed Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Turkey, 2022. We constructed the tree by using the maximum-likelihood method in MEGA 11 (25). Rickettsia conorii subspecies raoultii was used as the outgroup. Study sequences are underlined. GenBank accession numbers are provided. Scale bar represents nucleotide substitutions per site.

Main Article

References
  1. Negi  T, Kandari  LS, Arunachalam  K. Update on prevalence and distribution pattern of tick-borne diseases among humans in India: a review. Parasitol Res. 2021;120:1523–39. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  2. Sonenshine  DE. Range expansion of tick disease vectors in North America: implications for spread of tick-borne disease. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15:478. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  3. de la Fuente  J, Estrada-Pena  A, Venzal  JM, Kocan  KM, Sonenshine  DE. Overview: ticks as vectors of pathogens that cause disease in humans and animals. Front Biosci. 2008;13:6938–46. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lyme disease surveillance and data, 2025 [cited 2026 Mar 23]. https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/data-research/facts-stats/index.html
  5. Düzlü  Ö, İnci  A, Yıldırım  A, Doğanay  M, Özbel  Y, Aksoy  S. Vector-borne zoonotic diseases in Turkey: rising threats on public health. Turkiye Parazitol Derg. 2020;44:168–75. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  6. Inci  A, Yildirim  A, Duzlu  O, Doganay  M, Aksoy  S. Tick-borne diseases in Turkey: a review based on one health perspective. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2016;10:e0005021. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  7. Aydin  L, Bakirci  S. Geographical distribution of ticks in Turkey. Parasitol Res. 2007;101(Suppl 2):S163–6. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  8. Sorvillo  TE, Rodriguez  SE, Hudson  P, Carey  M, Rodriguez  LL, Spiropoulou  CF, Towards a sustainable One Health approach to Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever prevention: focus areas and gaps in knowledge. Trop Med Infect Dis. 2020;5:113. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  9. Shahhosseini  N, Wong  G, Babuadze  G, Camp  JV, Ergonul  O, Kobinger  GP, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in Asia, Africa and Europe. Microorganisms. 2021;9:1907. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  10. Bente  DA, Forrester  NL, Watts  DM, McAuley  AJ, Whitehouse  CA, Bray  M. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever: history, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical syndrome and genetic diversity. Antiviral Res. 2013;100:159–89. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  11. Gunes  T, Engin  A, Poyraz  O, Elaldi  N, Kaya  S, Dokmetas  I, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in high-risk population, Turkey. Emerg Infect Dis. 2009;15:461–4. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  12. Hawman  DW, Feldmann  H. Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2023;21:463–77. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  13. Yilmaz  GR, Buzgan  T, Irmak  H, Safran  A, Uzun  R, Cevik  MA, The epidemiology of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Turkey, 2002–2007. Int J Infect Dis. 2009;13:380–6. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  14. Dumler  JS, Barbet  AF, Bekker  CP, Dasch  GA, Palmer  GH, Ray  SC, Reorganization of genera in the families Rickettsiaceae and Anaplasmataceae in the order Rickettsiales: unification of some species of Ehrlichia with Anaplasma, Cowdria with Ehrlichia and Ehrlichia with Neorickettsia, descriptions of six new species combinations and designation of Ehrlichia equi and ‘HGE agent’ as subjective synonyms of Ehrlichia phagocytophila. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2001;51:2145–65. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  15. Altay  K, Erol  U, Sahin  OF. The first molecular detection of Anaplasma capra in domestic ruminants in the central part of Turkey, with genetic diversity and genotyping of Anaplasma capra. Trop Anim Health Prod. 2022;54:129. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  16. Altay  K, Erol  U, Sahin  OF, Aytmirzakizi  A. First molecular detection of Anaplasma species in cattle from Kyrgyzstan; molecular identification of human pathogenic novel genotype Anaplasma capra and Anaplasma phagocytophilum related strain. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2022;13:101861. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  17. Altay  K, Erol  U, Sahin  OF, Aytmirzakizi  A, Temizel  EM, Aydin  MF, The detection and phylogenetic analysis of Anaplasma phagocytophilum-like 1, A. ovis and A. capra in sheep: A. capra divides into two genogroups. Vet Res Commun. 2022;46:1271–9. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  18. Sahin  OF, Erol  U, Altay  K. Buffaloes as new hosts for Anaplasma capra: Molecular prevalence and phylogeny based on gtlA, groEL, and 16S rRNA genes. Res Vet Sci. 2022;152:458–64. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  19. Liu  Z, Ma  M, Wang  Z, Wang  J, Peng  Y, Li  Y, Molecular survey and genetic identification of Anaplasma species in goats from central and southern China. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2012;78:464–70. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  20. Li  H, Zheng  YC, Ma  L, Jia  N, Jiang  BG, Jiang  RR, Human infection with a novel tick-borne Anaplasma species in China: a surveillance study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2015;15:663–70. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  21. Fırtına Topcu  K, Sümer  Z. Investigation of the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus and the seropositivity of Coxiella burnetii, Borrelia burgdorferi in patients with a history of tick bites. Turk Mikrobiyol Cemiy Derg. 2022;52:265–73. DOIGoogle Scholar
  22. Leblebicioglu  H, Bodur  H, Dokuzoguz  B, Elaldi  N, Guner  R, Koksal  I, Case management and supportive treatment for patients with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2012;12:805–11. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  23. Öz  M, Çubuk  F, Çakır Kıymaz  Y, Öksüz  C, Hasbek  M, Büyüktuna  SA, Hidden threats: brucellosis diagnosis and co-infection patterns in Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever suspects. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2025;111:116724. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  24. Yang  J, Liu  Z, Niu  Q, Liu  J, Han  R, Liu  G, Molecular survey and characterization of a novel Anaplasma species closely related to Anaplasma capra in ticks, northwestern China. Parasit Vectors. 2016;9:603. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  25. Tamura  K, Stecher  G, Kumar  S. MEGA11: molecular evolutionary genetics analysis version 11. Mol Biol Evol. 2021;38:3022–7. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  26. Kimura  M. A simple method for estimating evolutionary rates of base substitutions through comparative studies of nucleotide sequences. J Mol Evol. 1980;16:111–20. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  27. Tamura  K, Nei  M. Estimation of the number of nucleotide substitutions in the control region of mitochondrial DNA in humans and chimpanzees. Mol Biol Evol. 1993;10:512–26.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  28. Yang  J, Liu  Z, Niu  Q, Liu  J, Han  R, Guan  G, A novel zoonotic Anaplasma species is prevalent in small ruminants: potential public health implications. Parasit Vectors. 2017;10:264. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  29. Guo  WP, Huang  B, Zhao  Q, Xu  G, Liu  B, Wang  YH, Human-pathogenic Anaplasma spp., and Rickettsia spp. in animals in Xi’an, China. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2018;12:e0006916. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  30. Shi  K, Li  J, Yan  Y, Chen  Q, Wang  K, Zhou  Y, Dogs as new hosts for the emerging zoonotic pathogen Anaplasma capra in China. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2019;9:394. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  31. Wang  Y, Zhang  Q, Han  S, Li  Y, Wang  B, Yuan  G, Ehrlichia chaffeensis and four Anaplasma species with veterinary and public health significance identified in Tibetan sheep (Ovis aries) and yaks (Bos grunniens) in Qinghai, China. Front Vet Sci. 2021;8:727166. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  32. Zhang  H, Sun  Y, Jiang  H, Huo  X. Prevalence of severe febrile and thrombocytopenic syndrome virus, Anaplasma spp. and Babesia microti in hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) from Jiaodong Peninsula, Shandong Province. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2017;17:134–40. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  33. Guo  WP, Zhang  B, Wang  YH, Xu  G, Wang  X, Ni  X, Molecular identification and characterization of Anaplasma capra and Anaplasma platys-like in Rhipicephalus microplus in Ankang, Northwest China. BMC Infect Dis. 2019;19:434. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  34. Han  R, Yang  JF, Mukhtar  MU, Chen  Z, Niu  QL, Lin  YQ, Molecular detection of Anaplasma infections in ixodid ticks from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Infect Dis Poverty. 2019;8:12. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  35. Koh  FX, Panchadcharam  C, Sitam  FT, Tay  ST. Molecular investigation of Anaplasma spp. in domestic and wildlife animals in Peninsular Malaysia. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports. 2018;13:141–7. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  36. Grandi  G, Aspán  A, Pihl  J, Gustafsson  K, Engström  F, Jinnerot  T, Detection of tick-borne pathogens in lambs undergoing prophylactic treatment against ticks on two Swedish farms. Front Vet Sci. 2018;5:72. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  37. Barradas  PF, Mesquita  JR, Ferreira  P, Gärtner  F, Carvalho  M, Inácio  E, Molecular identification and characterization of Rickettsia spp. and other tick-borne pathogens in cattle and their ticks from Huambo, Angola. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2021;12:101583. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  38. Peng  Y, Lu  C, Yan  Y, Song  J, Pei  Z, Gong  P, The novel zoonotic pathogen, Anaplasma capra, infects human erythrocytes, HL-60, and TF-1 cells in vitro. Pathogens. 2021;10:600. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  39. MacQueen  D, Centellas  F. Human granulocytic anaplasmosis. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2022;36:639–54. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  40. Ma  R, Li  C, Gao  A, Jiang  N, Feng  X, Li  J, Evidence-practice gap analysis in the role of tick in brucellosis transmission: a scoping review. Infect Dis Poverty. 2024;13:3. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar

Main Article

1These first authors contributed equally to this article.

Page created: August 05, 2026
Page updated: September 16, 2026
Page reviewed: September 16, 2026
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
file_external