The Molecular Detection of the Anaplasma ovis Pathogens of the Serological Samples in Small Ruminants and Ixodid Ticks in Azerbaijan

Abstract

A total of 704 blood samples (561 sheep, 143 goats) were examined for the Anaplasma ovis infection during a 1-year period. PCR and ELISA were used for the detection of the A. ovis antibodies. PCR assay identified A. ovis in 20 (8.1%) sheep and 15 (6.09%) goats. Using ELISA assay, 8.53% (31) were positive (21 sheep, 10 goats). A total of 246 blood smears were examined for the presence of intra-erythrocytic inclusions using Giemsa stain. Among the collected specimens, 60 were found positive with an overall prevalence of 24.3%. Among the 60 positive animals, 26 (43.3%) were sheep and 34 (56.7%) were goat. In the peripheral blood samples, the other piroplasmids — Babesia ovis, Theileria ovis, Th. recondita — were followed in an associative form. The ticks were collected, and the species composition was appointed in order to determine the ticks parasitized and have a pathogenic lifestyle in small ruminants. The intensive infection with the ticks of 2 genera — Rhipicephalus and Hyalomma was followed in small ruminants. It was determined that 45.8% of sheep and 35.1% of goats were infected intensively with the ticks of the Hyalomma genus. 110 samples prepared from the ticks of the Hyalomma genus were tested from the PCR test according to the Anaplasma ovis pathogen. 45 samples (40.9%) were assessed positively that 21 samples of them belonged to sheep and 24 of them to goats. 80 samples prepared from the internal organs of the ticks were examined according to the A. ovis parasite and the obtained results were analyzed. In 5 out of 35 samples which detected the parasites, A. ovis was followed, and in 30 samples, the associative parasites: Th. ovis, B. ovis piroplasmids. The Rickettsia and Coxiella pathogens were also detected in the samples.