First molecular identification of Anaplasma marginale in Horses from Kelantan, Malaysia https://doi.org/10.12982/VIS.2026.032
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Abstract
This study aimed to detect the presence of Anaplasma spp. in blood samples from equine stables in Kelantan, Malaysia. Blood samples were collected from 117 horses from different equine stables from Kelantan. Microscopic examination was conducted using the Giemsa staining method followed by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to confirm the Anaplasma spp. Out of 117 samples, two (1.71%) exhibited the coccobacillus shape characteristic of Anaplasma spp. under microscopic examination, while one sample (0.85%) was confirmed as Anaplasma spp. through PCR analysis. The confirmed sample was then sent for 16S rRNA gene sequencing, which revealed 99.86%–100% similarity to Anaplasma marginale. The sequence was submitted to GenBank under the accession number PQ804341. Phylogenetic analysis showed that PQ804341 was closely related to Anaplasma marginale strains detected in horses from the Philippines and cattle from Thailand. These findings confirm the presence of Anaplasma marginale in horses in Kelantan region even in the absence of clinical signs for anaplasmosis in horses. Appropriate molecular diagnostic and screening is crucial to prompt implementation of prevention and control measures. The close relationship among Anaplasma marginale and other zoonotic Anaplasma should raise concern for further study on potential risk to humans, transmission rate which closely related among infected host and tick
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