A parasite that lives in the red blood cells of animals could be fatal to certain cattle if not treated appropriately.
Anaplasmosis is a protozoan parasite that is transmitted to cattle by ticks, biting insects or contaminated instruments like dehorners and ear tagging tools.
The parasite resides in red blood cells. When an animal’s body recognizes those cells as abnormal, it destroys the cell, which leads to anemia in cattle.
“Anemia can be detected by noticing the color around the eyes to be paler than normal,” Dr. Bob Judd, host of Texas Vet News on the Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Radio Network, said.
Due to anemia, infected cattle also have high heart rates and rapid breathing and are usually weak and lethargic, generally do not have an appetite; and become dehydrated.
There are several different stages of the disease.
The incubation stage usually lasts four to eight weeks.
After that, clinical signs appear. That’s the time when treatment can be effective. Most cattle are treated with long-acting tetracycline products.
Treatment can be difficult because these cattle may be anemic before treatment.
The stress of running them into a chute for treatment can cause some of them to not survive the treatment process.
Because they have decreased red blood cells, many of them do not have enough oxygen transport to their cells.
“So you have to be very careful handling these cattle to prevent them from dying while you are attempting to treat them,” Judd said.
For the cattle that survive treatment, it usually takes two to three months for them to recover.
It is common for cows that are pregnant to abort during this time.
Some cattle that survive that are not treated with antibiotics remain carriers and can be a source of infection for the rest of the herd.
Dr. Judd’s full report can be heard here: http://www.texasfarmbureau.org/radio/audio/VET_111715.mp3.