Molecular detection of Anaplasma spp. in cattle of Talesh County, North of Iran

Anaplasmosis is generally caused by intraerythrocytic rickettsia of Anaplasma genus and transmitted biologically and mechanically. The current study was designed to determine the prevalence of Anaplasma spp. in cattle in Talesh; one of the rainy Iranian counties in Gilan province, Iran. From May to November 2015, one hundred and fifty blood samples of cattle were collected from different regions in Talesh. DNA was extracted from blood samples and subsequently, 16S rRNA and MSP4 genes were analysed by Nested-PCR method for differentiation of Anaplasma spp. The results showed that 40.66% of blood samples were positive for Anaplasma spp. and that 24.66%, 35.33%, 9.33% and 12% of positive samples were infected with A. phagocytophilum, A. bovis, A. marginale and A. centrale respectively. Statistical analysis by Chi-square test did not show any significant relationship between the presence of Anaplasma species and variables sex, age and tick infestation (p˃0.05). The 4 species of Anaplasma reported in this study are of potential importance for animal and public health.