Molecular Detection and Identification of Ehrlichia Hainanensis, A Novel Species in Rodents from Hainan Province, China.

(Anaplasmataceae family) are obligatory intracellular bacteria that infect humans and animals. They are hosted by mammals such as canines, bovines and wild rodents, and are vectored by ticks. In this study, we collected 121 rodent samples comprising 67 , 27 , 24 sp., 2 and 1 from Hainan province, which includes the second largest island in China. The presence and genetic diversity of species was evaluated and characterized by amplification and sequencing of 16S rRNA, and genes. An species was detected in 5 of the 67 samples (7.46%). The 16S rRNA, and genes showed the highest identity to known sequences (99.20%, 89.87% and 83.86%, respectively). In the phylogenetic trees they formed a cluster distinct from all other species. We propose that this species is a putative novel species, which we suggest be named Ehrlichia hainanensis. Its pathogenicity to humans remains to be further researched, and molecular surveillance in local populations is needed.