Comparative Analysis of Indirect ELISA and Real Time PCR for the Detection of Anaplasma Marginale in Buffalo, Cattle and Sheep in District Peshawar and Lakki Marwat, Pakistan

Abstract

| Anaplasmosis is disease of livestock having pandemic in nature. In the present study the specificity and sensitivity of i-ELISA and RT PCR was investigated in the samples collected from District Peshawar and Lakki Marwat. A total of 900 samples were collected from three species, Cattle, Buffalo and Sheep from two transects Peshawar and Lakki Marwat for determination of rate of Anaplasma marginale through i-ELISA and RT PCR. Overall rate for Anaplasmosis was 37.7% (339/900) for all three techniques, whereas techniques wise the rate of Anaplasma marginale was 28.7% and 34.8 % through i-ELISA and Real-time PCR, respectively. Majority of the Cattle (41.6 %) were found positive for A. marginale as compared to 23.7% and 16.2% in Sheep and Buffalo respectively. Transects were significantly different at P <0.05 in term of rate of A. marginale . Transect wise distribution of anaplasmosis was higher in Lakki Marwat (41.5%) as compared to Peshawar (30%). Gender wise rate was higher in female through i-ELISA (57.96%) and RT PCR (64.33%) as compared to male individuals having 16.27% and 23.25% rate, respectively. A significant difference was found in seasonality of tick infestation, with the high infestations in summer as compare to winter.