Seroprevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in well maintained horses from northern Tunisia.

The aim of the present study was to determine the seroprevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in 343 well maintained horses belonging to 11 horse stables located in northern Tunisia with indirect immunofluorescence test. Overall, 16.3% (56/343) of tested animals were positive. Anti-A. phagocytophilum antibodies were present in horses located in all studied governorates except the governorate of Ben Arous. Nine horse stables out of 11 contained positive animals, the seroprevalence of each one varied from nought to 50%. Seroprevalence varied according to gender, breed and type of activity, contrary to age. Seroprevalence was higher in females than males (21.4 and 9.5% respectively). Similarly, seropositive animals belonging to the English thoroughbred breed was significantly higher (30.2%) than other breeds. According to the utilization of horses, the highest positivity rate (21.1%) was observed in brood mares. Our results demonstrate that A. phagocytophilum infection is widespread in well maintained horses from northern Tunisia, so equine granulocytic anaplasmosis should be suspected by veterinarians in front of suggestive clinical signs like fever, ataxia and reluctance to move.