Now that tick season’s in full swing in most parts of the country, it’s time to talk about a tick-borne disease you’re probably not yet familiar with, and it’s not Lyme disease.
Anaplasmosis (Anaplasma marginale) is a tick-borne disease that manifests within six to 70 days of the infected bite (an average of 28 days is reported) and causes a multitude of symptoms, including lethargy, labored breathing, aggressive behavior, abortion, jaundice, fever, weight loss and constipation. Cattle can become infected at any age, but younger animals tend to be more resistant to the disease.
Though it can be fatal, it isn’t always, and stock can recover completely. One caveat, though, is that any infected animal that recovers can live a normal life without clinical signs of the disease, but that animal will always be a carrier, meaning that despite recovery, any cow or bull that contracted the disease could potentially spread the illness.
The disease spreads through ticks and flies. Ticks are hosts, reports Drovers, and the disease replicates within the male insect. The disease can travel with flies, as well, as the insects carry infected red blood cells from one animal to another. It’s important to note that humans can actually infect healthy animals, too, through the reuse of equipment like injection needles, dehorners and implant needles.
How to Stop this Infectious Disease?
The first step to eliminating this threat from your herd is testing and quarantining any infected animals to prevent introducing the infection to other members of your herd through insects. You’ll also want to employ an effective insect control plan, and at the same time, consider vaccination and use of feed-grade chlortetracycline (CTC) as a treatment protocol, especially during the peak of tick season.
According to Drovers, a vaccine is also available for provisional use in many states and has shown success in reducing the clinical symptoms. The vaccine, which is not live, requires two doses the first year and then an annual booster to remain effective.
Of course, beginning in January 2017, use of CTC – and other antibiotics – will require veterinary oversight through the FDA’s new veterinary feed directive (VFD) rule, which will end over-the-counter sales of medically important antibiotics used in feed, Drovers reported.
At Flying H Genetics, we aim to keep our customers informed of the latest news and issues affecting the cattle industry, as well as offering some of the highest-quality bulls and seed stock for herds across the Midwest and throughout the country. To learn more about our currently available herd bulls or donors, or to learn more about upcoming availability, give us a call or text today at 308-962-6500 or go to www.flyinghgenetics.com.
