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First molecular evidence of equine granulocytic anaplasmosis in Pakistan.
Abstract: Anaplasma phagocytophilum (A. phagocytophilum) is an obligate intracellular bacterium that causes equine granulocytic anaplasmosis (EGA) disease in equines. This pathogen has zoonotic potential, which makes it very important to be detected and controlled as early as possible. This study was aimed to assess the molecular prevalence, associated risk factors of EGA along with its effects on various hematological parameters. This study revealed an overall 10.67% prevalence in equine. Horses showed highest prevalence followed by mules and donkeys presenting 11.86, 10.53 and 9.43% prevalence, respectively. The samples were confirmed for anaplasmosis through sequencing. The BLAST queries confirmed very high homology of our isolates with Chinese and Japanese isolates of A. phagocytophilum (Accession no's; KX505303, KY242456 and LC002836). The phylogenetic analysis found the study isolates clustered with each other and this cluster closely resembled Chinese isolate of A. bovis (FJ169957), A. phagocytophilum (HQ872464) and A. phagocytophilum (NR_044762) human isolate from northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. The key risk factors identified for occurrence of EGA in equine species on the basis of univariable analysis were sex of animal, housing type, tick infestation, previous tick history and tick control status, type of acaricides used, rearing system and farm hygiene, respectively. The hematological parameters like Hemoglobin (Hb), Total Leukocyte Count (TLC), Total Erythrocytes Count (TEC), and granulocytes were decreased in diseased animals. The mules showed no typical hematological variations which make sense for its nature as carrier of infection to the susceptible species. This is the first molecular evidence of EGA in Pakistan. The disease needs to be handled seriously as it has zoonotic potential. The animals should be properly attended in disease conditions as leukopenia, neutropenia and lymphopenia can aggravate the condition by making the animal prone to secondary infections.
Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2018-01-05 PubMed ID: 29306724DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2017.12.032Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This research investigates the prevalence and associated risk factors of equine granulocytic anaplasmosis (EGA), a bacterial disease in horses, mules, and donkeys, in Pakistan. The pathogen causing the disease also has potential to affect humans.
Objective of the Research
- The research aimed to evaluate the molecular presence of equine granulocytic anaplasmosis (EGA) in animals in Pakistan, assess the associated risk factors of EGA, and analyze its impact on various hematological parameters.
Findings of the Research
- The study found an overall prevalence of EGA in 10.67% of the equines tested. The highest prevalence was seen in horses (11.86%), followed by mules (10.53%) and donkeys (9.43%).
- Sequencing confirmed the anaplasmosis, with isolates showing a high degree of similarity to Chinese and Japanese isolates of Anaplasma phagocytophilum – the bacterium causing EGA.
Phylogenetic Analysis
- Phylogenetic analysis showed that the study isolates highly resembled Chinese strains of A. bovis and A. phagocytophilum, as well as an A. phagocytophilum isolate from humans in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Risk Factors
- The univariable analysis used in the study identified various risk factors for EGA in equine species including the sex of the animal, type of housing, tick infestation, previous tick history, tick control status, type of acaricides used, rearing system, and farm hygiene.
Impact on Hematological parameters
- The study noticed notable changes in hematological parameters such as hemoglobin, total leukocyte count, total erythrocytes count, and granulocytes in animals with EGA, indicating a potential for serious health impacts.
- Mules did not show these variations, suggesting their potential role as carriers of the infection to susceptible species.
Consequences and Recommendations
- This research provided the first molecular evidence of EGA in Pakistan, prompting serious attention considering its zoonotic potential.
- The researchers recommended additional care for affected animals, as the disease could lead to leukopenia, neutropenia, and lymphopenia, making the animal more susceptible to secondary infections.
Cite This Article
APA
Saleem S, Ijaz M, Farooqi SH, Rashid MI, Khan A, Masud A, Aqib AI, Hussain K, Mehmood K, Zhang H.
(2018).
First molecular evidence of equine granulocytic anaplasmosis in Pakistan.
Acta Trop, 180, 18-25.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2017.12.032 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 54600 Lahore, Pakistan.
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 54600 Lahore, Pakistan. Electronic address: mijaz@uvas.edu.pk.
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 54600 Lahore, Pakistan.
- Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 54600 Lahore, Pakistan.
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 54600 Lahore, Pakistan.
- District Diagnostic Laboratory, Livestock and Dairy Development Department, 42200 Mianwali, Pakistan.
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 54600 Lahore, Pakistan.
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 54600 Lahore, Pakistan.
- University College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: ahstuzh@sina.com.
MeSH Terms
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum / genetics
- Anaplasmosis / blood
- Anaplasmosis / epidemiology
- Anaplasmosis / genetics
- Animals
- Equidae
- Erythrocyte Count
- Granulocytes
- Hemoglobins / analysis
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / genetics
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Leukocyte Count
- Pakistan / epidemiology
- Phylogeny
- Prevalence
- Ticks / microbiology
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Linares DFB, Martins KR, Joanol Dallmann PR, Camargo SAB, Dada OA, da Silva ÉF, Leite FPL, Cleff MB, Cunha RC. Molecular prevalence of Ehrlichia canis in dogs examined at the Hospital de Clínicas Veterinárias of Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Southern Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Parasite Epidemiol Control 2026 May;33:e00480.
- Yasin S, Ayesha A, Rahman HU, Murtaza I, Manzoor H, Aqdas A, Dawoud TM, Mehmood R, Shahzadi W, Ullah S, Khan A, Iqbal F. Molecular detection and genetic diversity of blood borne pathogens infecting domestic donkeys (Equus asinus). Trop Anim Health Prod 2025 Apr 30;57(4):202.
- Razzaq MA, Imran M, Atif FA, Abbas RZ, Alvi MA, Swelum AA, Sindhu ZU, Khan MK, Sabir Mughal MA, Khan A, Wu WF. Molecular surveillance based on anaplasmosis in domestic small ruminants: First report on zoonotic Anaplasma capra and phylogenetic insights from Faisalabad, Pakistan. PLoS One 2024;19(9):e0305412.
- Bogdan AM, Mitrea IL, Ionita M. Equine Granulocytic Anaplasmosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Clinico-Pathological Findings, Diagnosis, and Therapeutic Management. Vet Sci 2024 Jun 13;11(6).
- Campos JBV, Martins FS, de Oliveira CE, Taveira AA, Oliveira JR, Gonçalves LR, Cordeiro MD, Calchi AC, de Campos Binder L, Serpa MCA, Barbieri ARM, Labruna MB, Machado RZ, de Andrade GB, André MR, Herrera HM. Tick-borne zoonotic agents infecting horses from an urban area in Midwestern Brazil: epidemiological and hematological features. Trop Anim Health Prod 2021 Sep 22;53(5):475.
- Laamari A, Azzag N, Tennah S, Derdour SY, China B, Bouabdallah R, Ghalmi F. Seroprevalence of Antibodies Against Anaplasma Phagocytophilum and Borrelia Burgdorferi in Horses (Equus Caballus) from Northern Algeria. J Vet Res 2020 Sep;64(3):413-419.
- Ghafar A, Cabezas-Cruz A, Galon C, Obregon D, Gasser RB, Moutailler S, Jabbar A. Bovine ticks harbour a diverse array of microorganisms in Pakistan. Parasit Vectors 2020 Jan 3;13(1):1.
- Seo MG, Ouh IO, Choi E, Kwon OD, Kwak D. Molecular Detection and Phylogenetic Analysis of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Horses in Korea. Korean J Parasitol 2018 Dec;56(6):559-565.
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