VIII. Academic Studies Congress | Andizhan, Uzbekistan

Epidemiology and Phylogeny of Anaplasma ovis with a note on Hematological and Biochemical changes in asymptomatic goats enrolled from four districts in Punjab, Pakistan

Not scheduled

20m

Speaker

Ms Asia Taqddus (Dr. Furhan Iqbal Associate Professor of Zoology at Institute of Pure and Applied Biology, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan,Pakistan)

Description

Abstract
Anaplasma ovis, an intra erythrocytic gram negative rickettsial bacterium that infects small ruminants resulting in huge economic losses worldwide. The present investigation aims to report the occurrence and phylogeny of A. ovis in 122 asymptomatic goats enrolled from four districts (Layyah, Lodhran, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur) of Punjab, Pakistan by targeting the msp4 gene of bacterium. Results revealed that 184 out of 1200 (15%) goat blood samples were found 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 Lodhran district (9%). Represented partial msp4 gene sequences were 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 USA. Sex and age of goats, herd composition and size, presence of ticks on goats and dogs associated with herds was the risk 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 to uninfected animals. In conclusion, for the first time, we are reporting the prevalence of A. ovis in Pakistani goats from four districts of Punjab and this data will help in developing the integrated control policies against this newly reported tick-borne pathogen that is infecting our goat breeds.