Anaplasma spp. are significant arthropod-borne bacteria globally, but documented information about anaplasmosis in small ruminants in the north of Iraq is insufficient. Hence, this study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Anaplasma spp. and identify sheep and goat tick vector populations in Sulaymaniyah Governorate, north Iraq. The study population consisted of 470 sheep and 145 goats from 45 livestock farms in 10 geographical locations of Sulaymaniyah Governorate. The study was accomplished from April to December 2017. Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein and used for DNA extraction. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was conducted using primers based on the 16S rRNA of Anaplasma spp. Fragments of PCR products were sequenced for phylogenetic analysis. The prevalence of Anaplasma spp. was 58.9% based on the PCR results. Furthermore, 58.9% of sheep and 57.9% of goats were positive for anaplasmosis. The sequences represented 100% identity with previously documented GenBank isolates of A. ovis from Iran, the Netherlands, China, and Mongolia. Altogether, 150 Ixodid ticks were picked from small ruminants within the same flocks and were identified based on morphological features. Various infestation rates were observed; about 40% of the Ixodid ticks belonged to Rhipicephalus sanguineus, 34% belonged to Rhipicephalus turanicus, 18% were Hyalomma anatolicum, and 8% were Boophilus microplus (Rhipicephalus microplus). The present report is the first molecular study of Anaplasma species in small ruminants from Sulaymaniyah Governorate in northern Iraq to the best of our knowledge. The study concluded that anaplasmosis was endemic in small ruminants from the investigated areas.

Theileriosis is a significant hemoprotozoal disease of domestic and wild ruminants in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Ovines are mainly infected by T. ovis and T. lestoquardi, causing economic losses. Due to data scarceness in the Sulaymaniyah governorate, north of Iraq, this study was conducted to investigate subclinical theileriosis using microscopic examination and PCR. A total of 450 blood samples were collected from eight districts in Sulaymaniyah. The samples were randomly taken from clinically healthy sheep in 40 farms from April to October 2017. Following the organism verification, PCR products were sequenced and aligned. The study results revealed that 76.0% (n=342) and 58.0% (n=261) of the examined samples were positive for Theileria spp. by PCR and microscopic examination. T. ovis was reported in 76.0% (n=342) of all tested samples, while T. lestoquardi was present in 28.4% (n=97) of the positive specimens. Higher infection rates were observed during July and August. Analysis of the 18S rRNA gene partial sequence of the studied isolates with corresponding sequences in GenBank showed high degrees of identities with T. ovis and T. lestoquardi isolates reported from Iraq and other countries. T. uilenbergi and T. sp. OT3 were detected only through analysis of obtained partial sequences from Theileria-positive samples. Following analysis, T. uilenbergi isolates represented a high homology degree with Theileria isolates from Iraq and China. The newly identified T. sp. OT3 showed >99% identity with T. sp. OT3 isolates of Chinese and Spanish origin.

Parasitosis, especially parasitic gastro-enteritis, constitute to cause a serious health threat and a limitation to the productivity of small ruminants due to the associated morbidity, mortality, cost of treatment and control measures. A survey of the prevalence of gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) parasites in goats was conducted in and around Sulaimani province/Kurdistan Region /Iraq. Fecal survey of eggs/oocysts of gastrointestinal parasites of goats on the Sulaimani farms was conducted between September 2009 and May 2010 out of 316 fecal samples were collected from local bread type goats and from four selected area of Sulamani province that was Sulamani center, Arbat, Aghgeler and Said sadeq 142 (44.9%) were positive. All fecal samples were examined by using saturated sodium chloride floatation technique. Relative percentage prevalence 55(38.7%), 47(33%), 29(20.4%), 4(2.8%) was obtained for Nematodirus spathiger, Marshallagia marshalli, Trichuris ovis and Eimeria oocysts respectively. Total mixed infection that means more than one type of parasite infected were 7(2.2%) Mixed infection by Trichuris ovis eggs+Nematodirus spathiger eggs had the highest prevalence of 4(2.8%) while the lowest was by Nematodirus spathiger+Marshallagia marshalli+Trichuris ovis with 1(0.7%). Other mixed infection was Trichuris ovis+ Eimeria oocysts with 2(1.4%).