First report of Anaplasma marginale infection in goats, Brazi

Authors: DASILVA, NAYARA - Universidade Federal Do Parana; Ueti, Massaro; Johnson, Wendell; MIRA, ANABELA - National Institute Of Agricultural Technology(INTA); SCHNITTGER, LEONHARD - National Institute Of Agricultural Technology(INTA); VALENTE, JESSICA - Universidade Federal Do Parana; VIDOTTO, ODILON - Universidade Federal Do Parana; MASTERSON, HAYLEY - Washington State University; Taus, Naomi; VIEIRA, THÁLLITHA - Universidade Federal Do Parana

Submitted to: PLOS ONE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/27/2018
Publication Date: 8/13/2018
Citation: Dasilva, N.B., Ueti, M.W., Johnson, W.C., Mira, A., Schnittger, L., Valente, J.D., Vidotto, O., Masterson, H.E., Taus, N.S., Vieira, T.S. 2018. First report of Anaplasma marginale infection in goats, Brazi. PLoS One. 13(8):e0202140. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0202140.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0202140

Interpretive Summary: Anaplasma marginale, the causative agent of bovine anaplasmosis, is a tick-borne bacterium that causes significant economic losses for cattle industries. At least 20 ixodid tick species have been implicated in the transmission of A. marginale, including Dermacentor spp. and Rhipicephalus spp. In tropical and subtropical regions, Rhipicephalus microplus is the vector of bovine anaplasmosis. Despite host specificity of R. microplus for cattle, this tick species may be found parasitizing small ruminants. We report the first molecular detection of Anaplasma marginale in goats from northeastern Brazil, based on sequencing analysis. Amblyomma parvum and Rhipicephalus microplus were found feeding on animals.

Technical Abstract: Anaplasma marginale, the causative agent of bovine anaplasmosis, is a tick-borne bacterium that causes significant economic losses for cattle industries. A. marginale infects cattle through tick transmission worldwide, but increasingly the bacterium is being detected in other domestic and wild ruminants. At least 20 ixodid tick species have been implicated in the transmission of A. marginale, including Dermacentor spp. and Rhipicephalus spp. Anaplasma marginale is found in regions where tick vectors are endemic. In tropical and subtropical regions, Rhipicephalus microplus is the vector of bovine anaplasmosis. Despite host specificity of R. microplus for cattle, this tick species may be found parasitizing small ruminants. In Brazil, R. microplus is endemic and hampers livestock production resulting in annual economic losses estimated at U$ 3.24 billion. In northeastern Brazil, multispecies grazing is a common family subsistence practice on smallholder farms possibly facilitating interspecies transmission of pathogens. A study of cograzing ruminants has shown a single A. marginale strain infecting coexisting cattle, buffalo and ticks. A. marginale infection has been previously molecularly described in sheep from Iran. However, to the best of our knowledge, A. marginale has never been detected in goats. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of A. marginale and factors associated with the infection in goats from the State of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil.