Molecular detection of A. phagocytophilium and A. ovis infection in goat flocks Mandhare H.D.1, Chavhan S.G.1,5,*, Awandkar S.P.2, Jadhav R.K.3, Kulkarni M.B.2, Khillare B.S.4 1Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Udgir, Maharashtra-413 517, India 5Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University (MAFSU), Nagpur, Maharashtra-440 001, India 2Department of Veterinary Microbiology, College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Parbhani, Maharashtra-431 402, India 3Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Parbhani, Maharashtra-431 402, India 4Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Parbhani, Maharashtra-431 402, India *Address for Correspondence S.G. Chavhan, Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Udgir, Maharashtra-413 517, India, E-mail: drsam24183@gmail.com
Online Published on 27 March, 2024. Abstract Anaplasmosis in goats is one of the most serious concerns in the fast-growing small ruminant sector, as it reduces the animal's production and weight gain. The present study was conducted to study the clinical profile, hemato-biochemical changes and molecular detection of anaplasmosis in goat flocks in and around Udgir, Maharashtra during January to December 2021. A total of 140 goats belonging to 11 rural flocks were included in present study. Among them 50 suspected cases were selected finally for screening for A. phagocytophilium and A. ovis infection by blood smear examination and PCR analysis. The blood smear examination and PCR analysis of the suspected samples (n=50), resulted 88 and 92 percent positivity for anaplasmosis, respectively. The mixed infection (A. ovis + A. phagocytophilium) found more prevalent in affected goats. The major clinical signs in goats recorded were fever, congested, pale or papery white mucous membranes, swollen lymph nodes, respiratory distress and lameness in few cases.The important hemato-biochemical abnormalities of anaplasmosis in goats includes marked granulocytic leukocytosis, anemia, elevated levels of serum ALT, AST, BUN, creatinine and total bilirubin. In conclusion, the goat population had 92 percent of the overall prevalence of anaplasmosis with a high incidence of mixed or coinfection (A. ovis + A. phagocytophilium). The clinical diagnosis of anaplasmosis in goats can be precisely made from blood smear examination but the PCR showed more specificity and sensitivity for species detection and assessment of overall prevalence. This study also reports the first molecular detection of A. phagocytophilium infection in Indian goat flocks. Top Keywords Anaplasma ovis, Anaplasma phagocytophilium, Anaplasmosis, Blood smear, Goats, PCR. Top |