September 29, 2010

US scientist warns seasonal spike of anaplasmosis in cattle

A seasonal spike of anaplasmosis in cattle has been reported in Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa and a Kansas State University veterinarian is encouraging producers to be vigilant in monitoring their cattle.

Anaplasmosis is an infectious disease of cattle caused by several species of the blood parasite Anaplasma and A. marginale.

K-State Research and Extension veterinarian Larry Hollis noted that it occurs almost exclusively in adult cattle, not in calves. The most frequent observation is sudden death, even though it actually takes a few days from the time signs first appear until death occurs.

Early symptoms include white skin that appears yellow and whites of the eyes that will also appear yellow, Hollis said, and dairy cows will drop in lactation.

Anaplasmosis can be transmitted any time blood is transferred from one animal to another by vaccination needles and such instruments as ear taggers and tattoo equipment, as well as by blood-sucking insects such as ticks and biting flies, he said.

He urged producers to disinfect their needles and other potential blood-transferring equipment between animals (except when giving modified live virus or MLV vaccines). When using MLV vaccines producers should change needles between every animal to prevent the disinfectant from killing the virus.