.

1. Trends for last 15 years of important
rickettsial and chlamydial diseases in
animals
Presented by:
Sivasankar. P

2. Introduction
Rickettsial organism
• Obligate intra cellular parasite, requires live cells for multiplication
• Divide by binary fission, pleomorphic, gram negative
• Can be seen under light microscope size: 0.3-0.6x 0.8-2μm
• It stains well with giemsa ,poor with gram stain
• Parasites of arthropods replicates in gut of ticks and mites
• They do not survive outside the host except C. burnetti which produces
endospore
• These organisms can be cultivated in yolk sac of chicken embryo
• Only species Rochalimae quintana has the ability to grow in blood agar
• Guinea pig , mice are useful in primary isolation; Cell wall similar to gram
negative bacteria

3. Important rickettsial diseases
• Anaplasmosis- Anaplasma marginale
• Q fever- Coxiella burnetti
• Heart water disease in ruminants – not reported in india

4. 1. Anaplasmosis / gall sickness
• Obligate intra cellular parasite of RBC
• Tick bite , biting flies, contaminated needle
• Severity of disease increases with age
• Infected animal act as persistent carriers
• Common in tropical countries
• Carrier animal act as source of infection
• A. marinale , A. centrale – ruminants
• A. ovis – sheep
• Subclinical in sheep & goat
• Bos indicus relatively resistant

5. Prevalence of hemoprotozoan parasite in Tamil Nadu
(2002-2012)
• 2637 sample was collected in cattle western part of Tamil Nadu , screened
for blood protozoan parasite by giemsa staining. Overall prevalence was
16.64%
Theileriosis-13%
Anaplsmosis-2.64%
Babesiosis-1%
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
(Velusamy et al.,2014)

6. Prevalence of anaplasmosis in Haryana-2007
• A total of 452 blood smears were prepared from cattle kept under four
types of dairy production systems (three large organized dairy farms, six
commercial dairy farms, nine small holder dairy production units and
twelve Gaushalas) for detecting Anaplasma marginale infection during
2007. During the study period, none of the cattle sampled had clinical
symptoms of anaplasmosis. Overall prevalence was 46.9% (Prasanna and
Sangwan, 2010)
0
20
40
60
L.O.D.A CDF gaushala SDU
59.2%
46.07% 44%
35%
LODA- Large organized dairy farm
CDF- Commercial dairy farm
SDU- Small holder dairy unit

7. Prevalence in Rajasthan (2005-2014)
• In another study aimed to investigate the occurrence of blood parasites
(Protozoa and Rickettsia) infecting cattle in Southern Rajasthan from April
2005 to March 2014 in clinically cattle by examining 5257 blood samples.
Out of these, 473 (9%) were found positive for blood parasites. Among the
positive samples Theileriosis recorded in 42.28% samples, Anaplasmosis
recorded in 42.07% samples, and Babasiosis was recorded in 15.65%
samples.
0
10
20
30
40
50
ThileriosisAnaplasmosisBabesiosis
42.078%
(Bhantnagar et al., 2015)
42.28%
15.65%

8. Contd…
• A study was carried out to investigate the incidence of Anaplasma ovis
infection in sheep population of Kancheepuram and Chennai districts of
Tamil Nadu. A total of 464 whole blood sample and blood smears were
prepared from small holder sheep units and processed for examination.
On Geimsa stained blood smear examination, it was observed that the
overall prevalence rate of Anaplasma ovis infection was 9.2%. (Arunkumar
,2014)
• A study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of Anaplasma
marginale infection in cattle population of Kancheepuram and Chennai
districts of Tamil Nadu. A total of 429 whole blood sample and blood
smears were prepared from small holder dairy units and processed for
examination. On Leishmann-Geimsa stained blood smear examination, it
was observed that the overall prevalence rate of Anaplasma marginale
infection was 19.3%. (Arunkumar and Nagarajan, 2013)

9. Prevalence of Anaplsmosis in chennai
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
cattle sheep
19.3%
9.2%
(Arunkumar and Nagarajan,2013; Arunkumar,2014)

10. Contd…
• In Northern Kerala, South India anaplsmosis were detected using PCR. Out of
150 samples tested, 25 were detected positive (Nair et al., 2013)
• In 2012 reported that out of 862 animal 8.53% found positive in blood smear
examination for A.marginale in punjab(Singh et al.,2012 )
• In 2014, A total of 184 serum samples from six districts of Punjab were
evaluated for the presence of antibodies to both the parasitic antigen using a
commercially available ELISA assay kit. The overall sero prevalence of B.
bigemina and A. marginale was 30.9 and 20.6 % respectively, out of which
cattle (46 and 31.3 %) showed more prevalence than the buffaloes (5.8 and 2.9
%). A co-infection percentage of 14.1 (24 cattle and 2 buffaloes) were also
observed. (Filia, 2015)

11. Prevalence in Punjab- 2014
(Filia, 2015)

12. Case reports
• A total of 168 cattle presented to Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex,
Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Hisar during the
period of 3 months (July-September, 2014) with history of fever. Out of
these 168 animals, 7 (4.17%) were found to be suffering from
anaplasmosis on the basis Giemsa stain (Tarun et al., 2015)
• Another study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of anaplasmosis
infection in goats of Ramanathapuram district (Melakidaram village) of
Tamil Nadu for the period from September 2015 to February 2016. Total of
130 blood smears were collected from goats flocks with the history of
dullness, severe dehydration, tick infestation, and anorexia. Out of 130
smears, 34 were found to be positive for anaplasmosis with the percent
positivity of 26.15 % (Rajasokkappan and Selvaraju, 2016)

13. Contd…
• In Gujarat , Jugandah district , out of 480 cattle blood samples 3.93%
found positive for Anaplasmosis during 2011-2014. (Maharana et al.,2016)
• In Mysore district 2013-2015 , out of 1655 clinically suspected cattle
blood smear 673 sample found to be positive
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Anaplasmosis Babesiosis Thileriosis
2.82%
90.49%
40%
Dharnesha et al.,2017

14. Contd…
• In 2012 (Ashuma et al .,2013) compared sensitivity of PCR and giemsa
staining method for prevalence anaplsamosis in punjab.
• Through Microscopy (11.25%), by PCR (48.75%) (Ashuma et al. 2013)

15. Mansa
Bathinda1
36.36%
Patiala
66.66%
Ludhiana
38.2%
Nawanshahr
27.50%
Jalndhar
62.5%
Prevalence in Punjab,2012

16. DADF REPORT (Anaplasmosis)
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2013-14 2014-15 2016-17
13 outbreak
86 attack
14 outbreak
97 attack
16 outbreak
1911 attack
29 outbreak
1213 attack
38 outbreak
492 attack
108 outbreak
1928 attack
27 outbreak
351 attack

17. 2. Q fever
• Important zoonotic disease , affects cattle
and small ruminants
• Ruminants important source of infection to
humans
• In human beings mode of infection is
inhalation and ingestion
• In human beings leads to self limiting febrile
illness, pneumonia hepatitis, abortion
• In animals causes mainly reproductive
disorders like still birth, infertility abortion
,metritis etc.
• Transmission is by direct contact
• The organism is excreted in uterine
discharge and milk of the animal
• The organism highly resistent to physical
and chemical agent

18. Prevalence of Q fever in puducherry (2012-2013)
• Seroprevalence of coxiellosis (Q fever) in sheep & goat in Puducherry &
neighbouring Tamil Nadu was carried out at the department of
Microbiology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College & Research Institute,
Puducherry, during July 2012 to June 2013. Blood samples from 216 sheep
and 195 goats were collected from private and municipal slaughter houses
in and around Puducherry. Eleven of the 195 goats (5.64 %) and four of the
216 sheep (1.85%) had antibodies to C.burnetii.
Sheep (216 sample) = 1.8% positive
Goat (195 sample) = 5.6% positive
(Stephen et al., 2014)

19. Prevalence of Q fever in Northern India
• A total of 920 samples were collected from cows (88), buffaloes(33), sheep
(43) and goats (53) with a history of reproductive disorders and screened
for C. burnetii by PCR assay. The overall prevalence of Q fever in animals
with the history of reproductive disorders turned out to be 13.82%. The
species-wise prevalence of Q fever among animals was observed to be
12.78% in cattle, 16.66% in buffaloes, 11.04% in sheep and 6.13% in goats.
(Vaidya et al., 2010)

20. Prevalence of Q fever in Northern India
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
18%
cattle Buffaloe Sheep Goat
Q fever
Q fever
(Vaidya et al., 2010)
12%
16%
6%
11%

21. Chlamydial disease
• Obligate intra cellular parasite
• Posses cell wall lacks muramic acid
• Require live system for multiplication
• Inclusion bodies near nucleus , named so, chlamys
meaning mantle Basophilic virus – basophilic intra
cytoplasmic inclusion bodies
• Multiply by binary fission
• Dependent on host ATP , so called energy parasite
• Has two form 1. Elementary bodies- infectious , out
side the cell
2. Reticulate bodies – non infectious,
inside the cell
• Can be isolated in mouse, egg yolk sac

22. Chlamydial disease
• Diseases:
1. Enzootic abortion –Chlamydia psittaci
2. psittacosis(parrot), ornithosis (other birds)
1.Chlamydia abortus
2. Chlamydia pecorum
3. Chlamydia psittaci
4. Chlamydia caviae
5. Chlamydia felis
6. Chlamydia trachomatis
7. Chlamydia pnemoniae
8. Chlamydia suis
9. Chlamydia muridarum
10. Chlamydia gallinacea
11. Chlamydia avium

23. Seroprevalence of chlamydial infection
(in different parts of India, 2002-2011)
• Totally, 2127 randomly selected serum samples collected from ruminant
livestock species viz. cattle (N=430), buffaloes (N=429), sheep (N=906) and
goats (N=362), were tested by agar gel precipitation test for chlamydiosis
between 2002 and 2011.
• The chlamydial seroprevalence detected amongst ruminants in five states
of India was: Himachal Pradesh: Cattle-10.90%, sheep-10.60% and goats-
22.46%
• Punjab: Cattle-1.45%
• Andhra Pradesh: Cattle-2.80%, buffaloes-0.93%, sheep-8.90% and goats-
9.46%
• Maharashtra: Goats-8.33%
• Jammu and Kashmir: Sheep-12.50%
• The mean seroprevalence values of each animal species are: Cattle-
4.65%, buffaloes-0.93%, sheep-9.82% and goats-19.33%.
(Chahota et al., 2015)

24. Seroprevalence of chlamydial infection
(in different parts of India, 2002-2011)
0
5
10
15
20
25
cattle
sheep
goat
(Chahota et al., 2015)

25. Chlamydiosis in Himachal Pradesh, 2001
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
(Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 2001 )
85%
53%
44%
63%
55%
53%
27%
33%

26. Chlamydiosis in Himachal Pradesh,2002
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
sheep goat Buffaloe cow
26%
32%
21%
18%
(Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 2002; Indian Vet. J., 2002)

27. Sero-evidence chlamydiosis, 2002
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
bovine ewe Ram Goat Pigs
Hydrabad
Vijawada
Palampur
(Indian journal of Animal Science, 2004)

28. (Veterinary World, EISSN: 2231 -0916)

29. Seroprevalence of chlamydial infection
( in Andra Pradesh,Sep-Dec 2014)
• In Andhra Pradesh, a study based on ELISA was conducted to assess the
seroprevalence of chlamydiosis among ruminants, which revealed
seropositivity of 68.18% in cattle, 33.76% in buffaloes with an overall
prevalence of 41.41% in large ruminants. 35.38% of sheep and 25% of goat
were found positive for chlamydial antibodies.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
33.76%
(Didugu et al., 2016)
68.18%
35.38%
25%

30. Case report
• In 2000 Chlamydiosis among domestic poultry and Wild carriers Himachal
Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur, H.P. (Indian Journal of Animal
Sciences, 2000)
• In 2000, Concurrent outbreak of chlamydiosis and aflatoxicosis among
chickens. C.psittaci was 30%(6/20) birds Himachal Pradesh Krishi
Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur, H.P. (INTAS POLYVET, 2002)
• In 2002, chlamydiosis was reported among dairy animals with
reproductive problem is 8 animals out of 106 samples, Himachal Pradesh
Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur, H.P. (INTAS POLYVET, 2002)
• In 2003, Seroprevalence of chlamydial infections among buffaloes was 18
out of 207 samples Himachal Pradesh (Buffalo Bulletin, 2003)

31. Case report
• The sero-prevalence of Chlamydia psittaci in horses and mulesin Himachal
Pradesh was observed to be 16.66 and 23.80 percent respectively. ( Katoch
and Sharma, 2006 )
• Of 29 serum sample of Spiti ponies (20 females and 9 males) from an
organized farm at Kamand, District Mandi, having history of abortions, two
(6.89%) serum samples from aborted mares were positive for Chlamydia
psittaci. ( Centaur, 2007 )
• On analysis of Serum samples randomly collected from 172 freeranging
yak from six different yak tracts of Arunachal Pradesh overall prevalence of
chlamydiosis in yak is 35% ( Rev Sci Tech. 2009 )

32. THANK YOU