Anaplasma ovis and anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in sheep and wild rodents from northern xinjiang, northwest China

Abstract

The zoonotic rickettsial pathogen Anaplasma species have a broad geographical distribution and are important intracellular agents. Domestic animals and wild rodents may play an important role in the epidemiology of this disease. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of infection with Anaplasma species among domestic animals and wild rodents in northern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), Northwest China, during 2015-2016. In this study, DNA from Anaplasma ovis was detected by nested PCR in blood samples from 21/137 sheep (15.3%) in Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture (Ili), 18/79 sheep (22.8%) in Bole Mongol Autonomous Prefecture (Bole) and 13/71 sheep (18.3%) in Shihezi City. In addition, detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum DNA in spleen samples from great gerbils (Rhombomys opimus) in Urumqi (37/356, 10.4%) and Bole (21/134, 15.7%). Interestingly, co-infection A. ovis and A. phagocytophilum in blood of sheep (9/137, 6.7%) from Ili, northern XUAR. Based on 16S rRNA sequence, phylogenetic analyses showed that A. ovis were separated into one clade, while the A. phagocytophilum was separated into another clade. This analysis demonstrated that there are at least two different Anaplasma species widespread. The present investigation revealed high infection rates of A. phagocytophilum and A. ovis, which shed light on making effective measures to prevent and control Anaplasma species infection in animals in XUAR, Northwest China.