Molecular and phylogenetic analysis of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in equids in Mosul city, Iraq

Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a bacterium that causes Equine Granulocytic Anaplasmosis (EGA) disease in equids (ponies, horses, mules, and donkeys), which was worldwide distribution. The current study is aimed recording the prevalence of A. phagocytophilum in equids in Mosul city, Iraq using the PCR technique, determining some of the related factors linked to the prevalence of A. phagocytophilum, and exploring the phylogenetic analysis of the bacteria detected in this study. One hundred blood samples were obtained from equids (41 donkeys and 59 horses) of different ages, genders, and management practices. The prevalence of A. phagocytophilum in equids in Mosul city was 32%. A higher prevalence of the EGA was linked with the risk factors that include donkeys, more than 3 years, female equids, out-of stables animals, and ticks found on the equids. The individual analysis of 30 sequences of the 16S rRNA gene, which were extracted from equid's blood, confirmed A. phagocytophilum bacteria species. These four sequences were deposited to the American GenBank and assigned accession numbers (PQ594492.1, PQ594493.1, PQ594494.1, and PQ594495.1). These sequences were 99.46% - 100% identical to these sequences previously deposited to the NCBI GenBank includes: (KC422267.1) in North Korea, (KC916734.1, MG869512.1, KC916737.1) in China, (AB454076.1, AB196721.1) in Japan, and (MT754315.1, MT754351.1, MT754365.1) in South Korea. In conclusion according to the results, A. phagocytophilum is common among equines in Mosul, Iraq, and these results may be useful for future research and beneficial management of the A. phagocytophilum in the study region.