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Natural Ehrlichia ruminantium infection in two captive Arabian tahrs (Arabitragus jayakari) in Oman

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A Correction to this article was published on 12 July 2022

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Abstract

This study was investigated the cause of death of two captive adult Arabian tahrs (Arabitragus jayakari) died within 2–3 days after onset of fever and neurologic signs in a private farm in northern Batinah Region of Oman. Blood counting revealed leukocytosis attributed to neutrophilia and serum chemistry showed hypoproteinemia, increased creatine kinase and BUN. Upon autopsy, the animals exhibited mild ascites and hydrothorax, prominent hydropericardium, with large pale-yellow clear fluid coagulum, prominent epicardial petechiation, as well as severe pulmonary edema associated with frothy fluid in airways. Brain edema with congestion of meningeal and parenchymal vessels was prominent. Histopathology revealed severe congestion and edema of both lung and brain as well as cardiac myopathy. Ehrlichia ruminantium colonies (the causative organism of cowdriosis; OIE-listed disease) were demonstrated in the capillary endothelium of fresh brain squash and lung macrophages. This is the first report of natural E. ruminantium infection in Arabian tahr, the highly endangered species, based on typical clinical signs of acute cowdriosis and demonstration of E. ruminantium colonies in the brain capillary endothelial cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

    Mahmoud S. El-Neweshy & E. M. El-Manakhly

  2. Central Laboratory for Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman

    Mahmoud S. El-Neweshy & Julanda H. Al Mawly

  3. Pathology Unit, Damnhour Provincial Lab., Animal Health Research Institute, Giza, Egypt

    Safaa H. Aboollo

  4. Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia

    E. M. El-Manakhly

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  1. Mahmoud S. El-Neweshy
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  2. Julanda H. Al Mawly
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  3. Safaa H. Aboollo
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  4. E. M. El-Manakhly
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Correspondence to Mahmoud S. El-Neweshy.

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El-Neweshy, M.S., Al Mawly, J.H., Aboollo, S.H. et al. Natural Ehrlichia ruminantium infection in two captive Arabian tahrs (Arabitragus jayakari) in Oman. Trop Anim Health Prod 51, 2539–2545 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-019-01970-7

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