1. Prevalence and risk factors analysis associated with anaplasmosis in symptomatic cattle under field conditions in southern Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, Pakistan
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Abstract
The aim of the current study was to assess the prevalence of anaplasmosis and potential risk factors (age, sex, breed, months, seasons, application of acaricides) associated with occurrence of anaplasmosis in cattle in southern area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Anaplasma is an obligate intraerythrocytic microorganism affecting a wide range of ruminants and responsible for huge economical losses in form of high mortality, weight loss and dropped milk. Overall three hundred (n=300) animals showing clinical signs under field conditions were randomly selected from district LakkiMarwat for a period of six months (January, 2018 to June 2018). As a result the overall prevalence was 19.66% where the highest prevalence (24.85%) was recorded in young cattle at the age of (≤5 years) than adults (≥5 years) where lower prevalence (13.13%) was reported and statistically highly significant (p<0.001) association was observed. The highest sex wise prevalence was recorded in female animals (22.07%) than male (11.59%) where significant (p<0.002) association was recorded. The highest breed wise prevalence was recorded in Cross Holstein Friesian cattle (28.10%) than Indigenous pure breed cattle (6.08%) and found significant association (p<0.0000). The highest month wise prevalence was recorded in the June (38%) followed by May (34%), March (10%), January (8%) while the lowest in the month of February (6%) and recorded significant (p<0.003)) association. The highest season wise prevalence was recorded in the summer (36%) followed by spring (16%) while the lowest in the winter (7%) and found highly significant (p<0.0000) association. The highest prevalence (23.55%) was recorded where proper acaricides were not used whereas lowest prevalence (10.86%) was recorded in those areas where acaricides were used and observed significant association (p<0.0002).For future prospective the current study was conducted to reduce the economic losses by application of technical and scientific practices and control of predisposing factors.
Keywords: Anaplasma; Anaplasma marginale; Prevalence; Risk factors; Rickettsiales