Molecular and microscopy detection of Anaplasma species in camel of Golestan province

Anaplasma is an intracellular microorganism that lives in blood cells of host, causing illness and impose care costs. This study was aimed to investigate molecular and microscopic presence of genus and Anaplasma species in camels of Golestan province. Blood samples were collected from adult slaughtered camels in Inche Bourun industrial slaughterhouse for two years. Microscopic examination was performed by preparing Giemsa-stained blood smear. Molecular test was performed by primary amplification of DNA fragments and then they confirmed by performing the nested-PCR. The specific primers of 16S rRNA and msp4 genes were used to detect different species of Anaplasma. The proliferation of the primary and the nested PCR products showed that genus Anaplasma in 33 out of 90 samples (36.37 percent) were positive. Among samples including Anaplasma 2.22, 22,22 and 13.33 percentage were detected by specific PCR for A. marginale, A. phagocytophilum and A. bovis, respectively. None of the samples showed the presence of Anaplasma centrale. Microscopic observation of anaplasmic bodies in red blood cells (RBC) indicated the presence of Anaplasma genus in 33.33 percent of blood smears. By comparing molecular and microscopic tests, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy to identify the genus Anaplasma were 21.21, 66.67 and 50 percent, respectively. The results of this study showed that Anaplasma was present among camels in Golestan province. According to the results, molecular study of Anaplasma yields more accurate results than microscopic examination.