Molecular evidence of Anaplasma infection in naturally affected domestic cats of Pakistan

• Published in: Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases Vol. 72; p. 101524
• Main Authors: Ahmed, Arslan, Ijaz, Muhammad, Ghauri, Hammad Nayyar, Aziz, Muhammad Umair, Ghaffar, Awais, Naveed, Muhammad, Javed, Muhammad Umar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2020
• Subjects: Anaplasma - genetics; Anaplasmosis; Anaplasmosis - epidemiology; Animals; Cat Diseases - epidemiology; Cat Diseases - microbiology; Cats; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; Domestic cats; Hematological variables; Pakistan - epidemiology; Phylogenetic analysis; Phylogeny; Risk factors; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; Pakistan; Phylogenetic analysis; Anaplasmosis; Hematological variables; Domestic cats; Risk factors
• ISSN: 0147-9571; 1878-1667
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2020.101524

•Anaplasmosis is caused by gram negative obligate intracellular bacterium of the genus Anaplasma.•First report on molecular occurrence of anaplasmosis in naturally affected domestic cats in Pakistan.•The study isolates showed high resemblance (99%) with isolates from Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines and India. Feline anaplasmosis is considered as an emerging tick-borne disease of zoonotic potential. The aim of current study was to investigate the molecular prevalence of anaplasmosis, associated risk factors, and alterations in hematological parameters of domestic cats from Lahore, Pakistan. Blood samples of 100 domestic cats from district Lahore were examined microscopically and the extracted genomic DNA from each sample was processed for the amplification of 16 S rRNA gene of Anaplasma. PCR confirmed isolates were purified for sequencing. The data regarding the risk factors was collected in a predesigned questionnaire and statistically analyzed by logistic regression analysis. The study found a molecular prevalence of 13% (13/100) among analyzed blood samples. The nucleotide analysis of Anaplasmataceae species sequences amplified by PCR showed high resemblance (99%) with isolates from Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, and India. The potential risk factors found to be significantly associated (p < 0.05) with disease dynamics based on the Chi-Square test were tick infestation on studied animals, previous tick history, tick control status, house hygiene, and housing type. A significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the number of platelets, erythrocytes, hemoglobin level, and pack cell volume was observed in cats suffering from anaplasmosis compared to the healthy ones. The current study is the first report of Anaplasma infection in domestic cats of Pakistan. This study will be effectual in designing the control strategies for this disease.