Prevalence of Anaplasma marginale in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in the state of Uttar Pradesh, North India

Bovine anaplasmosis caused by Anaplasma marginale is highly endemic in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world where it accounts for huge economic losses to the livestock sector. Approximately 30% of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) herds in India are located in Uttar Pradesh (U.P). However in India, most of the research studies on Anaplasma are focused on cattle whereas studies on this pathogen in water buffaloes have been neglected. Therefore, present investigation was undertaken for determining the prevalence of A. marginale infection in water buffaloes in U.P, North India.

In the current investigation during 2017–2019, the prevalence of A. marginale infection in 228 water buffaloes in three districts of North-West U.P was studied by microscopy and by nested-PCR amplification of major surface protein 5 (msp5) gene.

Microscopic examination of blood smears of 228 water buffaloes revealed 7.89% animals positive for A. marginale. Conventional PCR of full length major surface protein 5 (msp5) gene detected 29.39% and nested-PCR amplification of this gene detected 64.0% of these animals as positive for A. marginale infection. A high incidence of the infection detected in this study area suggests that water buffaloes may serve as reservoir hosts of A. marginale and play a vital role in the spread of infection to other susceptible animals. However further studies are required on larger buffalo populations for determining the epidemiological status of anaplasmosis in these animals in India.