Identification of Anaplasma species and their prevalence in cattle and sheep in northeastern Iran by molecular methods

Anaplasma is an intracellular, gram-negative bacterium infecting different blood cells in animals and anaplasmosis is endemic worldwide in tropical and subtropical areas. This study aimed to determine the variety of Anaplasma species among cattle and sheep of the Golestan province, Iran. A total of 400 blood samples were collected via the jugular vein from healthy cattle (200) and sheep (200), randomly. The extracted DNA from blood cells was amplified by Anaplasma-all primers, which amplify a fragment from the region of the 16S rRNA gene from various members of the genus Anaplasma. Sixteen out of 200 cattle blood samples and two out of 200 sheep blood samples were Anaplasma spp. positive by first PCR. A. phagocytophilum was identified by specific nested PCR in 1% of cattle blood samples, only. Fourteen out of 200 cattle blood samples (7%) and two out of 200 sheep blood samples (1%) were positive for Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma ovis, respectively. Chi-square (χ2) tests were used to compare molecular prevalence values relative to farm Type, hygiene of the farm, tick infestation, use of acaricides by the farmer, distance from other farms, contact with wild animals, farm density, age, and sex. Anaplasma spp. prevalence in cattle was significantly related to tick infestation and age (P<0.05). Anaplasma spp. prevalence in sheep was significantly related to tick infestation and application of ectoparasiticides (P<0.05). This analysis demonstrated that there are at least three different Anaplasma species widespread among ruminants in the Golestan province.