University of Nebraska (USA) warns of threat transmitted by ticks: anaplasmosis

Determining the cause of death in unexpected losses of adult cattle can be challenging. However, diagnoses of anaplasmosis are increasingly common in Nebraska and it is important for producers to be aware of how this disease appears in affected animals, both alive and dead. While anaplasmosis in younger animals is not as deadly, older cattle have a higher mortality rate. In young cattle (less than 6 months of age), infections are often inapparent or show few or no symptoms. In cattle aged 6 months to 2 years, infections become increasingly severe but are rarely fatal. In animals older than 2 years that are infected for the first time, the risk of death can approach 50% of cases. WHAT IS ANAPLASMOSIS? Anaplasmosis is a disease caused primarily by Anaplasma marginale, a parasite of cattle red blood cells. This parasite can be transferred through blood, mainly in three ways: CLINICAL SIGNS OF ANAPLASMOSIS. Once A. marginale enters the new host animal, animals may remain clinically ...