SEROPREVALENCE OF ANAPLASMA OVIS ANTIBODIES IN SMALL RUMINANTS BY MAJOR SURFACE PROTEIN 5 COMPETITIVE INHIBITION ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY

The prevalence of ovine and caprine anaplasmosis in 2 districts of Matrouh governorate over a period of 12 months (May 2007–April 2008) was evaluated. Examination of 403 sheep and 300 goats microscopically revealed that 14.8 % and 19 % of sheep and goats respectively. Serologically using msp5 cELISA 52.1 % of sheep and 48 % of goats were infected by Anaplasma ovis. Seasonally, summer recorded the highest infection rate in both sheep and goats 63 % and 58.2 % respectively. Obviously treatment of infected animals with Terramycin LA increased the values of RBCs, hemoglobin and packed cell volume % while fever decreased and parasitemia was undetectable by means of Giemsa staining. In conclusion, Anaplasmosis usually progresses to a lifelong persistent and subclinical infection; simultaneously providing the source for tick-borne transmission of the pathogen. This may explain the high prevalence of ovine and caprine anaplasmosis with absence of clinical signs.