Hematological and serological (cELISA)‎ studies of caprine anaplasmosis in Duhok governorate of Kurdistan region of Iraq

Abstract EN

The objectives of the present work were done to investigate the prevalence of Anaplasma ovis infection in goats in Duhok area, Kurdistan Region, of Iraq from April to September 2009.

A total of 460 local black breed goats represent (35 flocks) of different localities were examined for the presence of Anaplasma ovis by Giemsa stained blood smears and serologically by competitive inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) for antibodies against A.

ovis.

The results revealed that 257 (55.86%) and 346 (75.22%) of goats were infected with A.

ovis by Giemsa stained and by (cELISA) respectively.

Statistically significant difference was encountered between males and females and among the different age groups of goats, high infection rate was detected in goats more than 3 year old 146 (31.74 %) , where as goats 1-3 years old and those less than one year old of 84 (18.26%) and 27 (5.86%) respectively.

The percentage of parasitemia ranged between 2.8-12.2% with mean of (7.12 %).

The hematological parameters were estimated from positive cases of Giemsa stained.

The mean values of erythrocyte count (5.9 ± 1.17) 106/μl, packed cell volume (19.5 ±2.68) % and hemoglobin concentration (6.3 ± 0.83) g/dl were statistically significant decrease (P 0.05).

Also there was a statistical significant increased (P 0.05) in mean corpuscular volume (MCV) (33.9 ± 5.88) fl, while there was no statistical significant in mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) (10.8 ± 1.76) pg and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) (32.3 ± 2.19) g/dl.

This indicated evidence of macrocytic normochromic type of anemia, whereas no significant differences were encountered in the differential count of leukocytes.