Serosurveillance for Anaplasma phagocytophilum antibodies in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Iowa, USA

Cases of human granulocytic anaplasmosis have increased in number and are being identified in new geographic areas since its discovery in 1994. White-tailed deer (WTD) become infected with the causative agent, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and serve as natural sentinels for this organism. In order to determine if A. phagocytophilum is present in the state of Iowa, sera collected from 628 WTD in 2004 from 13 sites and from 282 WTD in 1999 from a single, common site were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western immunoblotting. A seroprevalence of 9.1% was found among the 2004 samples, and there was no change in seropositivity rates from 1999 to 2004 at the single, common site. As A. phagocytophilum is another tick-borne human pathogen to be identified in the state of Iowa, this study has important implications for health care providers.