Molecular Characterization, Risk Factor Analysis
and Hematological Alterations Associated with
Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Domestic Cats of Pakistan
Syed Nazar Abbas1, Muhammad Ijaz1*, Rao Zahid
Abbas2, Muhammad Hassan Saleem1 and Asim
Khalid Mahmood3
1Department
of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Animal
Sciences, Lahore-Pakistan; 2Department of Parasitology,
University of Agriculture, Faisalabad;
3Department
of Small Animal Clinical Sciences,
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore-Pakistan
*Corresponding author:
mijaz@uvas.edu.pk
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum (A. phagocytophilum)is
a tick-borne rickettsial organism of zoonotic significance that has been alleged
for frequent clinical infections in domestic animals including cats. The current
study aimed to investigate the molecular prevalence of A. phagocytophilum in domestic cats. The
study also focused on the assessment of possible risk factors and hematological
alterations associated with this infection. For this purpose, 384 blood samples
were first examined microscopically and then by PCR targeting the 16S
rRNA gene. The samples found positive on PCR were purified and
sequenced later on. The data for the evaluation of risk factors was recorded and
statistically analyzed. The present study found 3.39% and 7.03% of cat samples
positive for A. phagocytophilum on microscopy and PCR, respectively. The
sequences of A. phagocytophilum presented high similarity with isolates
from Thailand with relatively less similarity with isolates from India and
China. Chi-square analysis revealed previous tick history, use of
ectoparasiticide, housing type and grooming practices as potential risk factors
(P<0.05) for disease dynamics. Comparative
hematological analysis revealed that the number of leukocytes, erythrocytes,
hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets was significantly decreased (P<0.05) in cats suffering from A.
phagocytophilum compared to the healthy ones. To our knowledge, no study has
been performed in the past to detect the presence of A. phagocytophilum in domestic cats of
Pakistan. The current study may help in the adoption of adequate tick-control
strategies for the control of A. phagocytophilum infection in domestic
cats.
To Cite This Article:
Abbas SN, Ijaz M, Abbas RZ, Saleem MH, Mahmood AK, 2023.
Molecular characterization, risk factor analysis and hematological alterations
associated with Anaplasma phagocytophilum
in domestic cats of Pakistan. Pak Vet J, 43(3): 493-499.
http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2023.082