Vector-Borne Hemopathogens in Goats: Molecular Identification and Genetic Diversity in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq

Tick-borne diseases impose significant constraints on livestock, caused by various pathogens that affect health and reduce reproductive performance. The study aimed to determine the occurrence rates of hemopathogens, coinfection, and genetic diversity in native goats from four regions in Sulaymaniyah Province, Iraq. Blood samples were randomly collected from 250 apparently clinically healthy goats. Conventional PCR was conducted targeting the 18S rRNA and MSP-4 genes to detect Theileria spp. and Anaplasma ovis, respectively, and to analyze genetic diversity. The overall infection rate of hemopathogens in goats was 67.6%, with a higher rate of Theileria spp. (49.2%) compared to A. ovis (38.8%). Coexistence of both pathogens was also observed in 20.4% of the examined goats. The presence of T. ovis was verified by BLAST analysis of 18S rRNA sequence isolates. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that recent isolates PV575344.1 and PV575345.1 were grouped along with T. ovis isolates from Iraq, Iran, Türkiye, and India. Sequence analysis of the Anaplasma ovis msp4 gene revealed that the study isolates PV222122.1 and PV222123.1 were highly similar to previous isolates in GenBank and clustered with them in the constructed phylogenetic tree. The current findings revealed the presence of vector-borne hemopathogens and the cocirculation of T. ovis and A. ovis with a higher infection rate in asymptomatic goats, indicating their endemicity. Attention to animal health is essential to reduce financial losses, and further study on tick vector inspection and the zoonotic potential of Anaplasma spp. is essential.