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

Abstract

Anaplasma capra is a recently discovered bacterial tickborne pathogen that was first identified in goats in 2012 and later in humans in China in 2015. We detected and genetically characterized A. capra in adult patients with suspected Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Turkey during the 2022 outbreak. We screened all patients for A. capra by using nested PCR targeting the gltA and groEL genes. We confirmed CCHF by molecular and serological tests. Of 263 patients, 6 (2.28%) were positive for A. capra. Sequence analysis revealed 84.16%-100% gltA gene similarity and 90.24%-100% groEL gene similarity with GenBank entries. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed all A. capra gene sequences belonged to genotype 1. Our results demonstrate clinical evidence of genotype 1 A. capra infection in humans. Our findings highlight the need for clinicians to consider A. capra in the differential diagnosis of CCHF-like symptoms, especially in endemic areas.