No evidence of Mycoplasma haemolamae and Anaplasma marginale in anaemic dromedaries in the united arab emirates

Haemotrophic mycoplasmosis or haemoplasmosis, caused by the haemotrophic mycoplasma species Candidatus Mycoplasma haemolamae (formerly Haemobartonella), has been described in both Old World camels (OWCs) and New World camels (NWCs) from different countries. Camelid anaplasmosis (formerly Ehrlichiosis) caused by Anaplasma marginale has been described in OWCs only. Knowledge of these pathogens in camels in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is missing. We investigated 55 clinically healthy, but slightly anaemic dromedaries in the UAE for the occurrence of haemotrophic mycoplasmas and Anaplasma marginale using blood smear investigations and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In the blood smears, neither of the two pathogens was detectable and the investigations using PCR methods did not reveal any DNA from Cand. M. haemolamae or A. marginale in 55 slightly anaemic UAE dromedaries. So far, the cause of anaemia in those dromedaries remains to be further analysed.