Snapshot Study of the Family Anaplasmataceae, Anaplasma spp., and Ehrlichia spp. Prevalence in Ticks of Sheep and Cattle in Jiroft City, Iran

Fahime  Dehnoaliyan; Sajede  Akbarabadi; Parvin  Mohseni; Elham  Mohammadi; Saeidreza  Nourollahifard; Marziyeh  Pourfatahi; Amirhossein  Khalili; Maziar  Jajarmi

doi:10.18502/jad.v18i3.18572

Fahime Dehnoaliyan Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
Sajede Akbarabadi Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
Parvin Mohseni Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
Elham Mohammadi Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
Saeidreza Nourollahifard Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
Marziyeh Pourfatahi Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
Amirhossein Khalili Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Maziar Jajarmi Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jad.v18i3.18572

Keywords: Ruminants; Ehrlichiosis; Anaplasmosis; Molecular detection; Tick-borne disease

Abstract

Background: Anaplasma spp. and Ehrlichia spp. are amongst the most important tick-transmitted bacteria that can cause zoonotic disease in various hosts including ruminants and humans.

Methods: In this study, 16srRNA, EE, and dsb sequences were respectively used to screen Anaplasmataceae family, Anaplasma spp., and Ehrlichia spp. in tick samples (n= 100) collected from 100 domestic ruminants including 50 sheep and 50 cattle in Jiroft City, southeast of Iran, between June and August 2021.

Results: two genera were predominant among the ticks including Hyalomma spp. (64%; 43% from sheep and 21% from cattle) and Rhipicephalus spp. (36%; 22% from cattle and 14% from sheep); all ticks were adult and 73% of them were male. DNA of Anaplasmataceae was detected in 17% (17/100) of the ticks collected from cattle (18%; 9/50) and sheep (16%; 8/50). Anaplasma spp. was not found in the samples, but two ticks were positive for Ehrlichia spp.; all were positive for Ehrlichia spp. belonged to the cattle (4%; 2/50).

Conclusion: This study shows that Anaplasmataceae strains are circulating via ticks among domestic ruminants in the study area, emphasizing the need for effective tick control strategies by livestock farmers, health, and veterinary authorities. Surveillance, molecular characterization and further sequencing-based studies are crucial for informed control and prevention efforts.