Abstract Rickettsia from the genus Anaplasma is obligated intracellular microorganism of animal host and human. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and distribution of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in domesticated small ruminant of Iran. Three hundred seventy blood samples of sheep and goat were collected from different regions in Hamedan province, Iran. The DNAwas extracted from blood samples and subsequently, 16S rRNA and MSP4 genes were analyzed by Nested-PCR method and overall 1.08% (4/370) of domesticated small ruminants were positive for A. phagocytophilum infection. The data recorded were analyzed by the Chi-square test and did not show any significant relation between infection and variables such as location, tick infestion, age, and sex of the host (p > 0.05). No significant correlation was found between the altitude and the Anaplasma species infection (Mann-Whitney test: p > 0.05). The present research is the first report of A. phagocytophilum infection in Iranian domesticated small ruminants and their zoonotic potential as a carrier of A. phagocytophilum.
