Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40700395›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Molecular epidemiology and genetic diversity of Anaplasma and Theileria spp. in Pakistani sheep.

Wajiha Shahzadi, Mughees Akbar, Arooj Ijaz, Arshad Hussain, Umair Shabbir, Ioannis A Giantsis, Shakir Ullah, Maged A AlGaradi, Adil Khan, Furhan Iqbal and 1 more

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In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It carries an expression of concern. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Molecular detection and genetic diversity ofFrontiers in microbiology · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Wajiha ShahzadiInstitute of Zoology. Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan.
Mughees AkbarInstitute of Zoology. Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan.
Arooj IjazInstitute of Zoology. Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan.
Arshad HussainInstitute of Zoology. Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan.
Umair ShabbirInstitute of Zoology. Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan.
Ioannis A GiantsisDepartment of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Shakir UllahDepartment of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan Pakistan, Mardan, Pakistan.
Maged A AlGaradiDepartment of Animal Production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Adil KhanDepartment of Zoology, Bacha Khan University, Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Furhan IqbalInstitute of Zoology. Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4996-0152
Ayman A SwelumDepartment of Animal Production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3247-5898

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Pakistan has a huge sheep population (37.2 million in 2024) that is largely unexplored for the presence of vector transmitted parasites. Present study was aimed to document the prevalence of Anaplasma sp., Anaplasma ovis, Theileria ovis and Theileria lestoquardi in sheep blood samples (N = 329) that were collected from six districts (Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Taunsa and Khanewal) during August till December 2024 and to report the genetic diversity of screened pathogens. Molecular analyses revealed that the prevalence of Anaplasma sp., Anaplasma ovis and Theileria ovis in screened sheep was 11%, 20% and 21% respectively. None of the screened sheep was Theileria lestoquardi infected. Co-infection of the screened pathogens was also observed. Presence of the detected pathogens was confirmed by DNA sequencing and subsequent BLAST analysis. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these pathogens displayed genetic similarities with the sequences that were deposited from various countries across the globe. Prevalence of all screened pathogens varied significantly between the sampling districts. Similarly, the Anaplasma sp., Anaplasma ovis and Theileria ovis prevalence varied significantly among the sheep breeds. Anaplasma ovis infection was more common in large herds and in un-infested sheep. Theileria ovis infection was more frequent in small herds. In conclusion, we are reporting the presence of Anaplasma sp., Anaplasma ovis and Theileria ovis in Pakistani sheep that were enrolled from all six districts. Large-scale studies are recommended in various geo-climatic regions of Pakistan to confirm the genetic diversity, epidemiology and host-pathogen interactions that will contribute towards effective control of these infections among the local sheep population.

Indexed as

AnaplasmaAnaplasmosisGenetic VariationSheep DiseasesTheileriaTheileriasisAnimalsMolecular EpidemiologyPakistanPhylogenyPrevalenceSheep

Identifiers

PMID40700395
PMCPMC12286364

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.