Molecular Survey of Anaplasma Capra in Goats in Van Province, Eastern Türkiye

Abstract

Background: A newly discovered zoonotic infection carried by ixodid ticks, Anaplasma capra, affects a wide variety of hosts, including numerous mammals. A. capra most likely infects erythrocytes or endothelial cells in mammals. This study aimed to investigate the A. capra pathogen in goats in Türkiye’s Van province. Methods: A total of 200 goat blood samples were examined. Goat samples were subjected to partial amplification of the gltA gene fragment using a nested polymerase chain reaction. Results: A. capra DNA was detected in 0.5% of goat blood samples. Phylogenetic analysis of a partial gltA gene fragment showed that the Eastern Türkiye isolate, closely grouped with A. capra isolates reported from wild and domestic ruminants in France, Türkiye, and Kyrgyzstan, formed a distinct clade. Conclusions: This is the first report of A. capra in goats in Van province, Eastern Türkiye. © The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences 2023.