First Molecular Evidence of Anaplasma bovis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Bovine from Central Punjab, Pakistan

Obligate intracellular bacteria belonging to the genus Anaplasma spp. are responsible for causing a hemolytic disease called anaplasmosis in animals, as well as in humans. This study was aimed at the molecular identification and genetic analysis of responsible causative agents of anaplasmosis beyond those already reported. A survey was performed during July and August 2018 in the Jhang District, Punjab, Pakistan. Four hundred and fifty blood samples from asymptomatic, tick-infested cattle were collected on FTA cards and tested for the Anaplasma spp. presence using nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. The 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences generated from the positive samples were used for genetic analysis of Anaplasma spp. The nested-PCR results showed the presence of two Anaplasma spp. with an overall prevalence rate of 10.44%, where the prevalence of A. bovis and A. phagocytophilum was 7.78% and 2.66%, respectively. The study portrayed new molecular data on the prevalence of Anaplasma spp. in the studied cattle population, indicating a potential threat to the human population as well.