Compositions and methods for the detection of anaplasma platys

Abstract

Described herein are improved diagnostic tools for veterinary and human use which can be used for serodiagnosing A. platys in mammals, particularly in members of the Canidae family and in humans. The diagnostic tools are a group of outer membrane proteins of A. platys and variants thereof, referred to hereinafter as the “OMP proteins”, a group of outer membrane proteins of A. platys and variants thereof referred to hereinafter as the “P44 proteins”, and antibodies to the OMP proteins and the P44 proteins.

1 - 103 . (canceled) 
     
     
         104 . A method for detecting an infection or exposure to  Anaplasma  in a subject, comprising contacting a biological sample from the subject with a polypeptide, and assaying the biological sample for the presence of an antibody that specifically binds the polypeptide, wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence that is sufficiently conserved to detect infection or exposure to at least two species of  Anaplasma.    
     
     
         105 . The method of  claim 104 , wherein the polypeptide is an immunogenic fragment of an  Anaplasma  P44 protein. 
     
     
         106 . The method of  claim 104 , wherein the polypeptide is an immunogenic fragment of an  Anaplasma  OMP-1X protein. 
     
     
         107 . The method of  claim 104 , wherein the polypeptide is encoded by one or more of the nucleotides of SEQ ID NOs: 124-132. 
     
     
         108 . The method of  claim 104 , wherein the  Anaplasma  is selected from the group consisting of  Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma marginale, Anaplasma centrale, Anaplasma mesaeterum, Anaplasma ovis , and  Anaplasma platys.    
     
     
         109 . The method of  claim 104 , further comprising assaying the biological sample from the subject for infection or exposure to  Ehrlichia canis.    
     
     
         110 . A method for detecting an infection or exposure to  Anaplasma  in a subject, comprising contacting a biological sample from the subject with a DNA primer or probe comprising a nucleic acid sequence that is sufficiently conserved to detect infection or exposure to at least two species of  Anaplasma.    
     
     
         111 . The method of  claim 110 , wherein the DNA primer or probe comprises a fragment of an  Anaplasma  P44 gene. 
     
     
         112 . The method of  claim 110 , wherein the DNA primer or probe comprises a fragment of an  Anaplasma  OMP-1X gene. 
     
     
         113 . The method of  claim 110 , wherein the DNA primer or probe comprises a fragment of an  Anaplasma  Tr1 gene. 
     
     
         114 . The method of  claim 110 , wherein the  Anaplasma  is selected from the group consisting of  Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma marginale, Anaplasma centrale, Anaplasma mesaeterum, Anaplasma ovis , and  Anaplasma platys.    
     
     
         115 . The method of  claim 110 , wherein the DNA primer or probe comprises one or more of the nucleotides of SEQ ID NOs: 124-132. 
     
     
         116 . The method of  claim 110 , wherein the DNA primer or probe is capable of hybridizing to one or more of the nucleotides of SEQ ID NOs: 124-132 under stringent conditions. 
     
     
         117 . The method of  claim 110 , further comprising assaying the biological sample from the subject for infection or exposure to  Ehrlichia canis.