Evaluation of Haematological Parameters in Cattle, Detection, and Confirmation of Cattle Anaplasma Marginale Infection at BUAN Farm in the Southeast Region of Botswana
Solomon S Ramabu1, Monkgogi Motladiile 1, Motheo Ramotshubi 1, Sumbikane, Gasebonwe1, Saber Y Adam2,3
and Abdelkareem A Ahmed1,4,5*
1Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Department of Veterinary Sciences
2College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, PR China
3Animal Welfare Center AWC, Nyala, Sudan
4Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Nyala, Nyala, Sudan
5Biomedical Research Institute, Darfur University College, Nyala, South Darfur State, Sudan
*Corresponding Author: Solomon S Ramabu, Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Department of Veterinary Sciences.
Received:
July 01, 2024; Published: November 19, 2024
Abstract
Anaplasmosis is a tick-borne disease caused by obligate intercellular gram-negative bacteria, Anaplasma spp. The present study evaluates dairy and beef cattle blood parameters at Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources to determine Anaplasma infection in the herds. Thirty (30) dairy animals and 30 beef animals were randomly selected and tested for blood parameters using a haematology analyser and microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained blood smears was used to identify blood parasites. Subsequently, 48 dairy and 48 beef animals were randomly selected and tested for Anaplasma infection using competitive inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ci-ELSA). To confirm Anaplasma infection 43 dairy animals were tested using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Nine PCR-positive animals were tested again with a PCR that is specific for Anaplasma marginale. Except for mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), blood parameters while within normal ranges, were higher in beef as compared to dairy cattle. There was a statistically significant difference in white blood cell count (WBC) (P = 0.0162) and granulocyte counts (P = 0.0265) with beef having higher counts compared to dairy cattle. The only blood parasite detected in both breeds was Anaplasma marginale. The study found a high level of Anaplasma infection with 98% (47/48) and 100% (48/48 of dairy and beef cattle testing positive by ci-ELISA receptively. PCR confirmed that 34.9% (15/43) of dairy cattle were positive for Anaplasma spp infection and Anaplasma marginale specific PCR confirmed the infection in 78% (7/9) of the animals tested. We conclude that cattle blood parameters at BUAN farm fall within normal ranges but that immune response cells were significantly lower in dairy compared to beef cattle. Also, a high-level endemic infection exists in the herd caused by Anaplasma marginale. The findings are discussed in the context of the utility of evaluating cattle health using diagnostic tests.
Keywords: Anaplasma; Infection; Cattle; ci-ELISA; Endemic
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