An epidemiological study on Anaplasma infection in cattle, sheep, and goats in Mashhad suburb, Khora

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The prevalence of Anaplasma infection was studied in cattle,<br><br>sheep, and goats in the Mashhad area from 1999 to 2002. A total of 160<br><br>cattle from 32 farms and 391 sheep and 385 goats from 77 flocks were<br><br>clinically examined for the presence of Anaplasma spp. in blood smears.<br><br>The study revealed that 19.37% of cattle were infected with Anaplasma<br><br>marginale and 80.3% of sheep and 38.92% of goats were infected with<br><br>Anaplasma ovis. Prevalence of Anaplasma infection between male and<br><br>female and between different age groups of cattle, sheep, and goats were<br><br>statistically nonsignificant. Seasonally, the prevalence of Anaplasma infection<br><br>in sheep and goats reached its highest level in summer, while a<br><br>decrease was observed in autumn, and reached the lowest level in winter.<br><br>The seasonal prevalence of Anaplasma infection in cattle was not significantly<br><br>different. Symptomatic cases were not observed in any of the<br><br>cattle, sheep, and goats. The ranges of anaplasmatemia in infected cattle,<br><br>sheep, and goats were 0.005–0.5%, 0.01–3%, and 0.01–3%, respectively