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Anaplasma ovis infection in sheep from Iran: molecular prevalence, associated risk factors, and spatial clustering

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Abstract

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the molecular prevalence and associated risk factors in sheep populations of Iran. To this end, between March 2017 and February 2018 jugular vein blood samples were collected from 1842 apparently healthy sheep from 327 herds in nine provinces in four ecological zones of Iran. A specific nested-PCR targeting the msp4 gene of A. ovis was employed. Fourteen variables were subjected to logistic regression analyses (univariate and multivariate) to specify the potential risk factors for infection. Statistically significant variables in univariate analyses (P ≤ 0.20) were assessed by multivariable logistic regression to control the confounding factors. Anaplasma ovis DNA was detected in 51.1% of herds (167/327) and 28.3% of animals (521/1842). Among geographical zones, herd and animal prevalence was highest in the Persian-Gulf zone (P < 0.001), and among provinces, Lorestan (in west) and Khuzestan (in south-west) had the highest prevalence (P < 0.001). Analysis of factors associated with A. ovis infection revealed that distance from other farms (OR = 2.52, P < 0.001), presence of other animal species in the farm (OR = 2.03, P = 0.046), season (OR = 1.40, P = 0.005), breed (OR = 3.762, P < 0.001), and age of sheep (OR = 1.20, P = 0.049) are potential risks in Iran. The spatial scan statistic in SaTScan recognized two high risks clusters for A. ovis infection in central (Semnan province) and the Persian-Gulf (Khuzestan province) zones amongst the study areas (P < 0.001). Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the msp4 gene confirmed the detection of A. ovis. This research is the largest study focusing on ovine anaplasmosis in Iran and shows that infected sheep are present in all geographic zones, bioclimatic areas, and provinces.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are however available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. The provided GenBank accession number for our nucleotide sequence is MZ383975.

Code availability

Not applicable.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank farmers, veterinarians, and laboratory colleagues who assisted us with sampling.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Parasitic Disease Research, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran

    Vahid Noaman

  2. Veterinary Medicine Department, Isfahan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Isfahan, Iran

    Vahid Noaman

  3. Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, 6517658978, Hamedan, Iran

    Alireza Sazmand

  4. Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, 8915173160, Yazd, Iran

    Alireza Sazmand

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  1. Vahid Noaman
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Contributions

VN conceived the study and performed fieldwork. VN performed laboratory work. VN and AS performed and analyzed data. VN and AS wrote the first draft of the manuscript. AS reviewed the manuscript. VN and AS read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Vahid Noaman.

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Ethics approval

Blood samples were taken according to the methods and guidelines of animal ethics approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of AREEO. All sampling was done with the permission of the livestock owner.

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Before each interview, verbal informed consent was acquired from all livestock owners.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Noaman, V., Sazmand, A. Anaplasma ovis infection in sheep from Iran: molecular prevalence, associated risk factors, and spatial clustering. Trop Anim Health Prod 54, 6 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-021-03007-4

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