PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF THE 16S RRNA GENE OF AN ANAPLASMA SP. CLOSELY RELATED TO ANAPLASMA PHAGOCYTOPHILUM FROM CATTLE IN CEBU, PHILIPPINES

Abstract

Anaplasma spp. are Gram-negative intracellular bacteria that can infect livestock animals and humans. In the Philippines, only Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma platys have been widely reported. The zoonotic Anaplasma phagocytophilum has not been specifically detected yet. However, 16S rRNA fragments of Anaplasma spp. from cattle in Cebu, Philippines were detected and were found to be closest with A. phagocytophilum.  This study aimed to further analyze these fragments. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using neighbor joining, maximum likelihood, and maximum parsimony. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the obtained sequence consistently clustered with A. phagocytophilum regardless of the method used. Since A. phagocytophilum can infect humans, further studies must be conducted as the public  dealing with livestock animals can be at risk.