Global Prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Cattle: A One Health Perspective, Meta‐Analysis and Future Predictions (up to 2035)

TL;DR

This study finds that 8.5% of cattle worldwide are infected with Anaplasma phagocytophilum, a tick-borne disease, with the highest rates in Mongolia and Guatemala.

Contribution

The study provides the first global meta-analysis and future predictions of A. phagocytophilum prevalence in cattle up to 2035.

Findings

The global pooled prevalence of A. phagocytophilum in cattle is 8.5%.

Mongolia and Guatemala had the highest prevalence rates at over 50%.

The disease is most common in the African region and hot-summer Mediterranean climates.

Abstract

Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an emerging tick‐borne zoonotic bacterium, which is considered a significant risk to the health and industry of cattle in tropical and sub‐tropical regions worldwide. This research focuses on examining the worldwide occurrence of A. phagocytophilum in cattle. Several databases, including Scopus, PubMed, ProQuest, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, were searched for publications spanning October 2004 to November 2024. The pooled prevalence was calculated with a 95% confidence interval (CI) using a random‐effects model based on the Freeman‐Tukey double arcsine transformation. A total of 72 studies satisfied the inclusion criteria, revealing a global prevalence of A. phagocytophilum in cattle estimated at 8.5% (5.9%–11.5%). Mongolia (51.9%, 45.9%–56.2%) and Guatemala (51%, 41.2%–60.7%) were countries that accounted for the highest prevalence. Moreover, the infection was most prevalent in African region with prevalence of 11.3% (3.9%–21.5%). The highest prevalence rate was observed in hot‐summer Mediterranean climate (13.7%, 4.7%–26.2%). The analysis indicated that immunological techniques were associated with the highest prevalence rate (14.2%, 6.5%–24.3%). The findings of the present research highlighted important geographical and environmental factors that affect the prevalence of disease. In the fields of veterinary medicine and public health, these findings enhance disease management plans and preventative initiatives.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

✓ Bovine anaplasmosis is a major tick‐borne disease affecting cattle herds.

✓ The global prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in cattle was 8.5%.

✓ Mongolia and Guatemala were countries accounted for the highest prevalence.

✓ Anaplasma phagocytophilum was most prevalent in cattle African region and Hot‐summer Mediterranean climate.

✓ Understanding infection dynamics in cattle is key to effective control, protecting animal health and sustaining agricultural productivity.

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