Anaplasma marginale in goats from a multispecies grazing system in northeastern Brazil

Authors: BARBOSA, IAGO - State University Of Londrina; ANDRÉ, MARCOS - Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP); AMARAL, RENAN - Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP); VALENTE, JESSICA - Universidade Federal Do Parana; VASCONCELOS, PRISYLLA - Universidade Federal Da Paraiba (UFPB); OLIVEIRA, CELSO - The Ohio State University; GOMES JUSI, MARCIA MARIZA - Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP); MACHADO, ROSANGELA - Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP); VIEIRA, THÁLLITHA - Universidade Federal Do Parana; Ueti, Massaro; VIEIRA, RAFAEL - Universidade Federal Do Parana

Submitted to: Ticks and Tick Borne Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/6/2020
Publication Date: 10/7/2020
Citation: Barbosa, I.C., André, M.R., Amaral, R.B.D., Valente, J.D.M., Vasconcelos, P.C., Oliveira, C.J.B., Jusi, M.M.G., Machado, R.Z., Vieira, T.S.W.J., Ueti, M.W., Vieira, R.F.C. 2020. Anaplasma marginale in goats from a multispecies grazing system in northeastern Brazil. Ticks and Tick Borne Diseases. 12(1). Article 101592. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101592.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101592

Interpretive Summary: Bovine anaplasmosis is a tick-borne disease that causes significant economic losses for cattle industries worldwide. The goal of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of A. marginale in multiple species including goat, sheep and cattle grazing on farms in the State of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. Serum samples from goat, sheep and cattle were tested for anti-Anaplasma antibodies by a commercial MSP5-based indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and by Msp4 PCR. Overall, 47 goats and 2 sheep were seropositive while all cattle were seronegative. Msp4 PCR detected two goats infected with Anaplasma and MSP1a sequencing showed goats were infected with the genotype F/9. Ticks were found feeding on goats but not on sheep or cattle.

Technical Abstract: Anaplasma marginale is a tick-borne bacterium that causes significant economic losses for cattle industries worldwide and is increasingly being detected in other animal species. This bacterium has been previously detected in buffaloes and goats co-grazed with cattle in Brazil. This study was aimed to investigate the occurrence of A. marginale in multiple species (including goat, sheep and cattle) grazing on farms in the State of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. A total of 119 goats, 71 sheep, and five cattle were evaluated. An epidemiological questionnaire was applied to the farm owner addressing age, gender, and presence of ticks. Serum samples from goat, sheep and cattle were tested for anti-Anaplasma spp. antibodies by a commercial MSP5-based on an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA). All samples were also screened for A. marginale- and A. ovis-infection by PCR using primers targeting the Anaplasma spp. msp4 gene. Anaplasma spp. were differentiated by sequencing of the repeat region of the msp1a gene. A total of 47/119 (39.5%, 95% CI: 31.1-48.4%) goats and 2/71 (2.81%, 95% CI: 0.7-9.7%) sheep were seroreactive for Anaplasma spp. MSP5 by the commercial iELISA. All cattle were seronegative for Anaplasma spp. PCR for Anaplasma spp. msp4 revealed that two out of 119 (1.68%; 95% CI: 0.4-5.9%) goats tested positive for Anaplasma spp. and all sheep and cattle samples were negative. Sequencing of the tandem repeats of the A. marginale msp1a gene demonstrated that goats were infected with the genotype F/91. Rhipicephalus microplus ticks were found feeding on goats but not on sheep or cattle.