Bovine anaplasmosis and tick-borne pathogens in cattle of the Galapagos Islands

Research confirms the Galápagos Islands are endemic for Anaplasma marginale, with 100% between-herd prevalence and a median within-herd prevalence of 93%. The study, conducted across Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, and Isabela islands, used PCR assays, genetic sequencing, and ELISA to detect A. marginale in cattle, while also identifying Rhipicephalus microplus ticks as carriers of additional pathogens, including Babesia bigemina, Borrelia theileri, and a Francisella-like endosymbiont. A significant association was found between A. marginale infection and cattle age, with adults showing higher odds (OR = 3.3) of infection compared to younger animals. The study highlights the widespread presence of tick-borne diseases in Galápagos cattle populations, posing risks to livestock health.

Gioia, G. V., Vinueza, R. L., Marsot, M., Devillers, E., Cruz, M., Petit, E., Boulouis, H. J., Moutailler, S., Monroy, F., Coello, M. A., Gondard, M., Bournez, L., Haddad, N., & Zanella, G. (2018). Bovine anaplasmosis and tick-borne pathogens in cattle of the Galapagos Islands. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, 65(5), 1262–1271. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.12866