Page 24 - MWC 9-15-2022s2

The Midwest Cattleman · September 15, 2022 · P24
Anaplasmosis in Cattle By Mark Z. Johnson

Anaplasmosis is a common blood, which can then lead
disease in cattle with world- to aggressive behaviors ex-
wide distribution. According- hibited by normally docile
ly, Anaplasmosis will occur cows or bulls. Other clinical
every year within Oklahoma signs that animals are in-
with some variation on the fected with the bacteria are
intensity of this disease usu- extreme lethargy, yellowing
ally based on the strain of of the mucous membranes,
Anaplasma marginale which abortions, weight loss, and
is a bacteria that infects red difficulty breathing. Most
blood cells. Once an animal producers will not know
becomes infected, they are they have an anaplasmosis
infected for life. problem until they see dead
Anaplasmosis is transmit- cows or bulls that are older
ted through the bite of ticks than 2-years of age. This dis-
and flies, as well as blood ease can be devastating with
contaminated instruments death losses in some herds
like needles, tattoo tools, cas- approaching 50%.
tration equipment and de- Best Management
horning instruments. This Practices for Treatment
bacteria does not harm the and Prevention and the only access to this
red blood cells directly but First, consult with your preventative treatment is to In Oklahoma it is not a
the cow’s immune response veterinarian so that they obtain a Veterinary Feed Di- matter of “if” but rather a
recognizes it when it reach- can develop a comprehensive rective (VFD). matter of “when” anaplas-
es certain levels which then plan to limit the impact of Clinical signs of infections mosis will impact your cat-
causes anemia due to the im- anaplasmosis. This relation- can be treated with injectable tle herd. Best management
mune system killing the red ship is important because the antibiotics via an intramus- practices to prevent and con-
blood cells that are infected. most commonly utilized con- cular injection of oxytetracy- trol the transmission of this
This will limit the amount trol plan is to administer tet- cline administered multiple disease include:
of oxygen that is transport- racycline antibiotics through days and should be given •Feeding tetracycline an-
ed throughout the animal’s mineral supplements or feed under a veterinarian’s direc- tibiotic during the fly and
tions. Successful antibiotic tick seasons (essential)
•Rotating pastures (when
therapy curing the clinical possible) to avoid pastures
signs of infection results in a with a history of tick issues
carrier animal. Carrier cat- during tick season
tle will be immune to further •Burning pastures in the
disease from anaplasmosis spring to control ticks
but will remain a source from •Controlling fly and tick
which needles, flies and ticks populations to the extent
can spread the disease. A possible
vaccine is available in some •Changing needles and
states and Oklahoma is ap- disinfecting any instruments
proved for this vaccine. This which may result in trans-
vaccine does not prevent in- mitting blood from animal to
fection, but anecdotal evi- animal when working cattle.
dence demonstrates a reduc-
tion in clinical signs. Drovers

Researchers Successfully Test First

Anaplasmosis Vaccine

A new study involving the and Kansas,” said Director
College of Veterinary Medi- of the Center of Excellence
cine at Kansas State Univer- for Vector-Borne Diseases in
sity is paving the way forward the K-State College of Vet-
in controlling anaplasmosis, erinary Medicine Roman
a devastating and costly cat- Ganta. “Independent of ani-
tle disease. The research is mals fed with antibiotic sup-
unique in that it is the first plement, about 50 to 60% of
to address the urgent need all animals are positive for
for a vaccine against the tick- the disease. Farm practices,
borne disease. however, may make some dif-
“We started a major re- ference in controlling it, but
search project in defining having a good vaccine is the
the disease throughout Cali- best option for controlling
fornia and parts of Missouri the disease. We are the only