Ehrlichia Species in Dromedary Camels (Camelus dromedarius) and Ruminants from Somalia

Ehrlichioses, caused by Ehrlichia species, are tick-borne diseases (TBDs) that affect animals and humans worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the molecular occurrence of Ehrlichia spp. in 530 animals (155 Dromedary camels, 199 goats, 131 cattle, and 45 sheep) in the Benadir and Lower Shabelle...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Osman, Aamir M., Hassan-Kadle, Ahmed A., André, Marcos R. [UNESP], Collere, Flávia C. M., Córdova, Amir Salvador Alabí [UNESP], Montiani-Ferreira, Fabiano, Vieira, Thállitha S. W. J., Ibrahim, Abdalla M., Yusuf, Abdulkarim A., Machado, Rosangela Z. [UNESP], Vieira, Rafael F. C.
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2025
Country:Brasil
Institution:Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
Repository:Repositório Institucional da UNESP
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.unesp.br:11449/298812
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14010065
https://hdl.handle.net/11449/298812
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Ehrlichia minasensis
Ehrlichia ruminantium
ehrlichiosis
heartwater
Somalia
sub-Saharan Africa
tick-borne diseases
Description
Summary:Ehrlichioses, caused by Ehrlichia species, are tick-borne diseases (TBDs) that affect animals and humans worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the molecular occurrence of Ehrlichia spp. in 530 animals (155 Dromedary camels, 199 goats, 131 cattle, and 45 sheep) in the Benadir and Lower Shabelle regions of Somalia. Blood DNA samples were tested for PCR targeting dsb and sodB genes of Ehrlichia spp. and PCS20 and map1 genes of E. ruminantium. The obtained sequences were submitted for phylogenetic analyses. Ehrlichia spp. were detected in 26.4% (140/530) of animals by dsb-PCR, with the highest prevalence in dromedary camels (54.8%), followed by cattle (29.8%), goats (7.0%), and sheep (4.4%). Dromedary camels, cattle, and goats had significantly higher infection odds compared to sheep (p < 0.05). Among dsb-PCR-positive samples, 76.9% (30/39) of cattle tested sodB-positive, while other species were negative. E. ruminantium was detected in 13.7% (18/131) of cattle by pCS20-PCR, but none were positive for the map1 gene. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed E. minasensis in camels, sheep, and goats and E. ruminantium in cattle, marking the first molecular evidence of E. minasensis in dromedary camels, sheep, and goats globally, and E. ruminantium in cattle from Somalia. These findings emphasize the need for further research on its economic and public health impact.

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