This study was purposed for confirming detection and typing of Anaplasma spp in infected sheep from Al-Diwaniyah province, Iraq. Sampling of 50 blood specimens was performed from clinically-identified infection of anaplasmosis. The samples of the blood were subjected to DNA extraction followed by polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR)-based detection of the Anaplasma marginale using major surface protein (MSP4) gene. The results have shown that 8 blood samples were infected with A. marginale. The PCR-based identification has revealed a confirmative identification of the Anaplasma marginale in the infected sheep. The study identifies Anaplasma marginale as a member of infectious agents that affect sheep in the study city.

Different vectors are considered critical for disease transmission between animals; however, ticks play a significant role in the dissemination of various infectious illnesses of animals and human importance. The current work was carried out to categorize ticks genetically of those isolated from cattle that entered Al-Diwaniyah abattoir. In the present study, 50 tick samples were collected and subjected to microscopic examination and genetic-based methods of polymerase chain reaction and partial gene sequencing, both utilized the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COX1) gene as a genotyping element. The findings of the microscopic examination showed that the ticks were from Hyalomma spp. Further analysis, the polymerase chain reaction revealed the genus of Hyalomma of the ticks, but when the PGS was performed, one sample of H. detritum, three samples of H. excavatum, and two samples of H. marginatum were identified. When the phylogenetic analyses were conducted, H. detritum showed close genetic similarity to an isolate from Spain EU827695.1. H. excavatum revealed similarity with isolates from India MK863382.1 and Turkey MT230050.1. In contrast, H. marginatum displayed close identity to an isolate from Iran (MG557555.1). In conclusion, these findings may indicate evolutionary links of the locally identified isolates to different world isolates, probably due to the trade-moving of animals.