What is Anaplasmosis?
Anaplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by a micro-organism Anaplasma phagocytophilum that is a parasite of red blood cells. The bacteria live inside of the white blood cells and can cause a variety of problems. It affects domestic and wild ruminants, including cattle, sheep, goats and deer.

Anaplasmosis symptom in Cattle

Cattle will show signs within 10-14 days after getting the infection. Anaplasmosis infected animal becomes too weak. The most common signs of infection are high fever, lethargy, and swollen painful joints. Other signs include vomiting, diarrhea, and neurologic signs. Some pets may develop liver and kidney damage with the infection.

Some pets may develop bleeding disorders that show up as nosebleeds, bloody urine, or severe bruising on the skin. Animal skin becomes pale around the eyes and on the muzzle, lips, and teats. Later it may show constipation, excitement, rapid weight loss, and yellow tinged skin. The animal may fall or lie down and be unable to rise. The affected cattle either die or begin a recovery, one to four days after the first signs of the disease. The animal may recover slowly over a two or three-month period after the treatment.

How to spread Anaplasmosis?

Anaplasmosis is transmitted through the red blood cells of infected animals. Anaplasmosis is most often spread by the bite of infected cattle. The disease causing micro-organisms also infect and reproduce in the tick.The disease can also be transmitted in infected red blood cells by biting flies or through contaminated instruments such as hypodermic syringes and dehorning equipment. The four distinct phases in the tick life-cycle

• Egg
• Larvae
• Nymph
• Adult

Nymphal and adult ticks are most frequently associated with transmission of Anaplasmosis to humans.

How is Anaplasmosis diagnosed?

This is difficult to diagnose in some cases and we have to run some special tests like below.

1. Complete Blood Count: This test measures and evaluates the cells that circulate in the bloodstream. In this case the platelets (which help the blood clot correctly) and the red blood cells are usually lower than normal. The white blood cell count is usually low and in about half of cases we will see the bacteria inside of the white blood cells.

2. Chemistry Profile: This test appears at the internal organ function. It is very important to evaluate the internal organs to make sure there is no damage. It also helps that how aggressively we need to treat pets to have a good outcome.

3. Urinalysis: In this disease pets may have kidney damage with this infection. Evaluating the urine will check for kidney damage and allow us to plan our treatment. Our greatest fear is that pets may develop permanent damage, which is rare.

4. 4Dx Test: This test is for Anaplasmosis, Lyme disease, another tick disease called Ehrlichia canis and heartworm disease.

How is Anaplasmosis treated?

The recommended treatment of Anaplasmosis for children and adults is a tetracycline antibiotic, typically Doxycycline. This is given once or twice daily depending on the situation for 4 weeks. It is very important to give all the medications as directed. The number one side effect of this drug is stomach disturb, which can usually be avoided if given with a meal.

In severe cases, we may need to give other medications and treatments. If there are bleeding problems or organ damage, we may even need to keep the pet in the hospital for advanced care.

The current treatment is vaccine

Conventional vaccines target the proteins on the outer surface of the virus. These proteins let the host’s immune system identify the pathogen as a foreign body, producing ‘antibodies’ against it. However, due to these proteins continuously changing on the Anaplasma marginale surface, a conventional vaccine developed in this way would prove ineffective.

How can Anaplasmosis be prevented?

You can prevented Anaplasmosis with some cure. Get more guidance about Anaplasmosis cure [link]