[An epidemiological survey of equine anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum) in southern France].

Anaplasmosis is caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum and transmitted by Ixodes spp. ticks. According to some reports the disease can be introduced into disease-free zones by migrating birds. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of A. phagocytophilum in horses in the Camargue. Data concerning 424 horses were gathered and the sera were tested for A. phagocytophilum and for piroplasmoses using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and a complement fixation test, respectively. The seroprevalence rates were 11.3 % for A. phagocytophilum, 64.4 % for Theileria equi and 19.7% for Babesia caballi. Stallions were less likely to produce antibodies against A. phagocytophilumthan were females or geldings (odds ratio [OR] = 0.3; p = 0.021). The presence of swallows increased the risk of infections in stables (OR = 5.18; p = 0.011). Spatial analysis showed the existence of groups of infected stables along canals and rivers (p = 0.008). These results suggest an emergence of A. phagocytophilum in the Camargue.