Anaplasma spp. in dairy ruminants in Jordan: high individual and herd-level seroprevalence and association with abortions

Abstract

We estimated the seroprevalence of, and associated risk factors for, anaplasmosis in dairy cows, sheep, and goats in all regions of Jordan. Apparently healthy animals from 135 farms (31 cow, 68 sheep, and 36 goat farms) were tested for Anaplasma spp. antibodies by a competitive ELISA. At the farm level, 36%, 94%, and 94% of cow, sheep, and goat farms, respectively, were seropositive for Anaplasma spp. At the individual animal level, 22%, 89%, and 82% of the tested cows, sheep, and goats, respectively, were seropositive, which demonstrates widespread and high seroprevalence of Anaplasma spp. in dairy farms in Jordan. Seroprevalence did not vary between regions. Using the Fisher exact test, there was a significant association between high seroprevalence and recent abortion in small ruminants. There is an urgent need for further investigation of this disease, and the potential role of Anaplasma spp. in abortions, on dairy farms in Jordan.