FIRST MOLECULAR REPORT OF ANAPLASMOSIS AND ITS ASSOCIATED RISK FACTOR IN CAPTIVE BIG CATS OF PAKISTAN
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Keywords
Anaplasmosis, big cats, risk factors, Phylogenetic analysis, Hematological variables
Abstract
Anaplasmosis, a tick-borne disease affecting both animals and humans, has been investigated in domesticated big cats in Pakistan. This study aimed to determine the molecular prevalence of anaplasmosis and identify associated risk factors. Blood samples from 96 domesticated big cats were tested for the presence of Anaplasma using PCR, revealing a 15.63% infection rate. Nucleotide analysis indicated that the Anaplasma isolates were closely related to strains from Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and India. Logistic regression analysis identified significant risk factors, including gender, age, geographic area, vaccination history, previous exposure to flies, systemic diseases, recent transportation, exposure to domestic animals, body condition score, history of anemia, tick infestation, deworming history, house hygiene, tick control measures, housing type, jaundice, and appetite status. Infected cats exhibited significantly lower levels of erythrocytes, platelets, hemoglobin, and packed cell volume compared to healthy counterparts, indicating that anaplasmosis can lead to anemia and other hematological disorders. This study represents the first report of anaplasmosis in domesticated big cats in Pakistan, providing essential insights for the development of effective control strategies against this disease in these animals.
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Zia Ullah
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Lahore 54000 Pakistan
Syed Saleem Ahmad
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary & Animal sciences, Lahore 54000 Pakistan.
Muhammad Sarwar Khan
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary & Animal sciences, Lahore 54000 Pakistan.
Imtiaz Rabbani
Department of Physiology, University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Lahore 54000 Pakistan.
Muhammad Awais
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Lahore 54000 Pakistan
Warda Gill
Lahore Zoo, Lahore 54000 Pakistan.
Muhammad Rizwan Khan
Lahore Zoo Safari Park, Lahore 54000 Pakistan.
Muhammad Azhar
Lahore Zoo Safari Park, Lahore 54000 Pakistan.
Syed Faheem Ahmad
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Lahore 54000 Pakistan