Tyler Braud, Navarre, Christine B., Edwards, Ashley K, Elzer, Philip H., Cater, Melissa W.
American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis). LSU AgCenter Photo
Bovine anaplasmosis is an infectious, noncontagious disease of cattle that is caused by the organism Anaplasma marginale. Anaplasma marginale is endemic across the world, and it is most prevalent in tropical and subtropical environments. Due to the environmental conditions in Louisiana, this disease is found all around the state and causes significant production losses. The Anaplasma organism works by destroying the red blood cells of infected cattle, which leads to anemia and other clinical signs of disease. All ages of cattle are susceptible to anaplasmosis, but mature animals are most likely to show symptoms.
American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis). LSU AgCenter Photo
Biological
Mechanical
Transplacental
Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)
Blood Smears
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Anaplasma marginale on blood smear
Bovine anaplasmosis is an ongoing issue in cattle populations in Louisiana. Cattle producers should talk to their veterinarians about testing and developing control strategies, including introducing new animals that may be naive to anaplasmosis.