The first study on the seroprevalence of Anaplasma spp. in small ruminants and assessment of associated risk factors in North Egypt

Research (Published online: 20-05-2022)

10. The first study on the seroprevalence of Anaplasma spp. in small ruminants and assessment of associated risk factors in North Egypt

Abdelfattah Selim, Kotb A. Attia, Roua A. Alsubki, Fatima Albohairy, Itoh Kimiko and Mourad Ben Said

Veterinary World, 15(5): 1221-1227

Abdelfattah Selim: Department of Animal Medicine (Infectious Diseases), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Toukh 13736, Egypt.

Kotb A. Attia: Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Roua A. Alsubki: Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Fatima Albohairy: Department of Extramural Research, Health Sciences Research Center, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia.

Itoh Kimiko: Institute of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Ikarashi-2, Nishi-ku, Niigata 950-2181, Japan.

Mourad Ben Said: Department of Basic Sciences, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Manouba 2010, Tunisia; Laboratory of Microbiology at the National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Manouba 2010, Tunisia.

doi: www.doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2022.1221-1227

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Article history: Received: 04-01-2022, Accepted: 25-03-2022, Published online: 20-05-2022

Corresponding author: Abdelfattah Selim

E-mail: abdelfattah.selim@fvtm.bu.edu.eg

Citation: Selim A, Attia KA, Alsubki RA, Albohairy F, Kimiko I, Ben Said M (2022) The first study on the seroprevalence of Anaplasma spp. in small ruminants and assessment of associated risk factors in North Egypt, Veterinary World, 15(5): 1221-1227.

Abstract

Background and Aim: Ovine anaplasmosis is a rickettsial disease caused by Anaplasma spp. These Gram-negative intracellular bacteria are mainly transmitted by ticks and infected blood cells of caprine, ovine, and wild small ruminants. At present, epidemiological data on anaplasmosis in cattle, dogs, and camels in Egypt are available, but the data about Anaplasma spp. in sheep and goat are scarce. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Anaplasma spp. in small ruminants and assess the associated risk factors.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed to investigate the seroprevalence of Anaplasma spp. in 300 sheep and 300 goats from four governorates in North Egypt using a commercial competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays kit, and the associated risk factors for the infection were evaluated.

Results: Overall, the seroprevalence of anti-Anaplasma antibodies was 18.3% and 21.3% in sheep and goats, respectively. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to determine the association between risk factors and Anaplasma spp. infection.

Conclusion: Age, animal husbandry, acaricide use, tick infestation, and contact with cattle were the primary risk factors for Anaplasma seropositivity. This study confirms the presence of antibodies against Anaplasma spp. in small ruminants from Egypt. This is the first study to assess the associated risk factors for Anaplasma infection in small ruminants from Egypt. Further studies are needed to improve the understanding of the associated disease factors, facilitating the development of new procedures for control of anaplasmosis in livestock.

Keywords: Anaplasma spp., competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Egypt, risk factors, small ruminants.