First Molecular Evidence for the Presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Naturally Infected Small Ruminants in Tunisia, and Confirmation of Anaplasma ovis Endemicity

species are obligate intracellular rickettsial vector-borne pathogens that impose economic constraints on animal breeders and threaten human health. and infect sheep and goats worldwide. A duplex PCR targeting the and genes of and , respectively, was developed to analyze the field blood samples collected from sheep and goats. A total of 263 apparently healthy small ruminants from 16 randomly selected flocks situated in 3 bioclimatic zones in Tunisia were analyzed for infections. spp. was detected in 78.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 72.8-83.1) of the analyzed animals. The prevalence of in sheep (80.4%) and goats (70.3%) was higher than that of (7.0% in sheep and 1.6% in goats). Using an inexpensive, specific, and rapid duplex PCR assay, we provide, to the best of our knowledge, the first molecular evidence for the presence of in small ruminants in Tunisia. generally presented as a co-infection with . This study provides important data to understand the epidemiology of anaplasmosis in small ruminants, and highlights the risk of contracting the infection upon tick exposure.