Dr Arslan Ahmed - Molecular evidence of Anaplasma infection in naturally affected domestic cats
Channel: Vector-Borne Pathogens in Greater Bay Area
Date: 07/04/2022

Abstract

Feline anaplasmosis is considered as an emerging tick-borne disease of zoonotic potential. The aim of current study was to investigate the molecular prevalence of anaplasmosis, associated risk factors, and alterations in hematological parameters of infected domestic cats from Lahore, Pakistan. Blood samples of 100 domestic cats from district Lahore were examined microscopically and the extracted genomic DNA from each sample was processed for the amplification of 16 S rRNA gene of Anaplasma. PCR confirmed isolates were purified for sequencing. The data regarding the risk factors was collected in a predesigned questionnaire and statistically analyzed by logistic regression analysis. The study found a molecular prevalence of 13% (13/100) among analyzed blood samples. The nucleotide analysis of Anaplasmataceae species sequences amplified by PCR showed high resemblance (99%) with isolates from Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, and India. The potential risk factors found to be significantly associated (p&lt;0.05) with disease dynamics based on the Chi-Square test were tick infestation on studied animals, previous tick history, tick control status, house hygiene, and housing type. A significant (p&lt;0.05) decrease in the number of platelets, erythrocytes, hemoglobin level, and pack cell volume was observed in cats suffering from anaplasmosis compared to the healthy ones. The current study is the first report of Anaplasmainfection in domestic cats of Pakistan. This study will be effectual in designing the control strategies for this disease.

Speaker Bio

Dr. Arslan Ahmed is working as a lecturer in the Department of Veterinary Medicine, UVAS Lahore. He joined the department in December 2018 as a teaching assistant and later on, in January 2022, he was appointed as a Lecturer in the department. He did his graduation in Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore by securing a 3rd position in the DVM batch 2013-2018. He has completed his MPhil in Clinical Medicine with a CGPA of 4.00/4.00. His area of research was “Tick-borne diseases of domestic animals”. He has published his MPhil research in a peer-reviewed international journal. Currently, he is pursuing his PhD in the same department. 

During his graduation, Dr. Arslan won the Mevlana Exchange Program Scholarship and completed his final internship at Nigde Omer Halisdemir University, Turkey. He has been nominated for the merit scholarship during his DVM and MPhil studies. He also secured 2nd position in 1stSmall and Medium Enterprise Convention 16 (SMECON-16), held at UVAS, Lahore. He has participated in various national and international conferences. He is a Registered Veterinary Medical Practitioner (RVMP) in Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council. 

Dr. Arslan is actively involved in the teaching, clinical, and research activities of the department. His main duties include assistance in teaching undergraduate Veterinary Medicine courses and handling of clinical cases at the Outdoor Hospital, UVAS-Lahore. 

Session Chair: Maryam Fanian and Esa Karalliu