“Candidatus anaplasma camelii”in onehumped camels(Camelus dromedarius)in Morocco:a novel and emerging Anaplasma species?

Background:There has been a growing interest in camel anaplasmosis due to its recent emergence in this reservoir species and concerns for its zoonotic potential.The epidemiology of anaplasmosis in camels therefore remains poorly understood mostly because camels belong to marginalised poor and often transhumant populations whose interests are largely neglected.Most studies of anaplasmosis in camels have relied on microscopy and serology for diagnosis and only three studies,undertaken in Tunisia,Saudia Arabia and China,have used molecular diagnostics.The present work characterises Anaplasmataceae strains circulating in the Camelus dromedarius reservoir in Morocco using PCR.Methods:Camels(n=106)were randomly sampled from 6 regions representing different agro-ecological areas in southern Morocco.Whole blood was collected and screened using PCR methods targeting the gene groEL.Anaplasmataceae strains were characterised by sequence analysis of the gene groEL.Results:A total of 39.62%(42/106)camels screened were positive for Anaplasmataceae spp.GenBank BLAST analysis of five positive sequenced samples revealed that all strains were 100%identical to“Candidatus Anaplasma camelii”.Phylogenetic investigation and genetic characterisation of the aligned segment(650 bp)of the gene groEL confirmed high similarity with A.platys.Conclusion:This study demonstrates the circulation of a previously unidentified species of the genus Anaplasma in Morocco which is genetically close to the agent causing canine anaplasmosis but whose main reservoir is thought to be Camelus dromedarius.Trial registration number:This study is not a clinical trial and therefore a trial registration number does not apply.

Soil erodibility mapping using three approaches in the Tangiers province–Northern Morocco

Soil erodibility is a key factor in assessing soil loss rates.In fact,soil loss is the most occurring land degradation form in Morocco,affecting rural and urban vulnerable areas.This work deals with large scale mapping of soil erodibility using three mapping approaches:(i)the CORINE approach developed for Europe by the JRC;(ii)the UNEP/FAO approach developed within the frame of the United Nations Environmental Program for the Mediterranean area;(iii)the Universal Soil Loss Equation(USLE)K factor.Our study zone is the province of Tangiers,North-West of Morocco.For each approach,we mapped and analyzed different erodibility factors in terms of parent material,topography and soil attributes.The thematic maps were then integrated using a Geographic Information System to elaborate a soil erodibility map for each of the three approaches.Finally,the validity of each approach was checked in the field,focusing on highly eroded areas,by confronting the estimated soil erodibility and the erosion state as observed in the field.We used three statistical indicators for validation:overall accuracy,weighted Kappa factor and omission/commission errors.We found that the UNEP/FAO approach,based principally on lithofacies and topography as mapping inputs,is the most adapted for the case of our study zone,followed by the CORINE approach.The USLE K factor underestimated the soil erodibility,especially for highly eroded areas.

Distinct and combined impacts of climate and land use scenarios on water availability and sediment loads for a water supply reservoir in northern Morocco

The objective of this study was to examine the impacts of climate and land use changes on wateravailability and sediment loads for a water supply reservoir in northern Morocco using data-intensive simulation models in a data-scarce region. Impacts were assessed by comparing the simulated water and sediment entering the reservoir between the future period 2031-2050 and the 1983-2010 reference period. Three scenarios of land use change and two scenarios of climate change were developed in the Tleta watershed. Simulations under current and future conditions were performed using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. The simulations showed that climate change will lead to a sig-nificant decrease in the annual water supply to the reservoir (-16.9% and -27.5%) and in the annual volume of sediment entering the reservoir (-7.4% and -12.6%), depending on the climate change sce-narios tested. The three scenarios of land use change will lead to a moderate change in annual water inflow into the reservoir (between-6.7% and +6.2%), while causing a significant decrease in sediment entering the reservoir (-37%to-24%). The combined impacts of climate and land use changes will cause a reduction in annual water availability (-9.9%to-33.3%) and sediment supplies (-28.7%to-45.8%). As a result, the lifetime of the reservoir will be extended, but at the same time, the risk of water shortages will increase, especially from July to March. Therefore, alternative water resources must be considered.