Compositions and methods for the detection of
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. A method for diagnosing an infection with Anaplasma platys in a subject comprising the steps of: (a) providing a test sample from the subject; (b) providing an isolated or purified P44 protein of Anaplasma platys ; (c) contacting the test sample with the P44 protein; and (d) assaying for the formation of a complex between antibodies in the test sample and the P44 protein, wherein formation of said complex is indicative of infection with Anaplasma platys , wherein the Anaplasma platys P44 protein comprises SEQ ID NO: 39, SEQ ID NO: 92 or SEQ ID NO:44.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Anaplasma platys P44 protein comprises SEQ ID NO: 39 or SEQ ID NO: 44.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the test sample comprises a serum sample or a plasma sample.