Epidemiology and Phylogeny of Anaplasma ovis with a Note on Hematological and Biochemical Changes in Asymptomatic Goats Enrolled from Four Districts in Punjab, Pakistan.

Background: Anaplasma ovis is an intra-erythrocytic gram negative rickettsial bacterium that infects small ruminants, resulting in huge economic losses worldwide. Materials and Methods: The present investigation aims at reporting the molecular prevalence of A. ovis in 1200 asymptomatic goats that were enrolled from 4 districts (Layyah, Lohdran, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Rajanpur) in Punjab, Pakistan by targeting the msp4 gene of bacterium. Risk factors associated with the prevalence of A. ovis and phylogeny of bacterium were also documented. Results: 184 out of 1200 (15%) goat blood samples were infected with A. ovis. The prevalence of the pathogen varied with the sampling sites (p = 0.005), and the highest prevalence was detected in goats from Layyah (19%) followed by Rajanpur (17%), Dera Ghazi Khan (15%), and Lohdran district (9%). The represented partial msp4 gene amplicon was confirmed by Sanger sequencing and deposited to GenBank (OP225957-59). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the amplified isolates resembled the msp4 sequences reported from Iran, Mangolia, Sudan, and the United States. Sex and age of goats, herd composition and size, and the presence of ticks on goats and dogs associated with herds were the rick factors associated with the prevalence of A. ovis. Red blood cells, lymphocytes (%), neutrophils (%), hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels in blood and Aspartate amino transferase, urea, and creatinine levels in serum were disturbed in A. ovis infected goats when compared with uninfected animals. Conclusion: We are reporting the prevalence of A. ovis in Pakistani goats from four districts of Punjab and these data will help in developing the integrated control policies against this tick-borne pathogen that is infecting our goat breeds.

Molecular prevalence and associated risk factors of Anaplasma ovis in Pakistani sheep.

Background: Majority of Pakistani population lives in rural areas and raising animals, especially the small ruminants, is their primary source of income. Anaplasma ovis is known to infect small ruminants globally and causing significant economic losses to livestock owners, however prevalence of Anaplasma ovis has been least investigated from Pakistan despite having a huge sheep population. Methods: The present study was conducted from June 2021 till December 2021 to report the PCR based prevalence of Anaplasma ovis in the blood samples of sheep (n = 239) that were collected from District Dera Ghazi Khan in Pakistan. Results: Out of 239 samples, 30 (12.5%) amplified a 347 bp fragment specific for the msp4 gene of Anaplasma ovis. Represented partial msp4 gene sequences were confirmed by Sanger sequencing and deposited to GenBank (OP620757-59). None of the studied epidemiological factors (age, sex, breed, size of herd, dogs with herd, and composition of herd) showed an association (P > 0.05) with the Anaplasma ovis infection in enrolled sheep. Analysis of the amplified partial mSP4 sequence of Anaplasma ovis revealed that this gene is highly conserved as all three sequences were identical and phylogenetically resembled with the msp4 sequences amplified from small ruminants in China, Kenya, and Germany, Turkey, Portugal, Tunisia and India. In conclusion, for the first time, we are reporting a moderate prevalence of Anaplasma ovis prevalence in Pakistani sheep and this data will help in developing the integrated control policies against this newly reported tick-borne disease that is infecting our sheep breeds.