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Impact of Anaplasmosis in a Dairy Herd¹

U. S. Department of Agriculture and Louisiana Agriculture Experiment Station

Abstract

Anaplasmosis is an infectious disease of cattle characterized by intraerythrotic bodies, anemia and fever. The disease is most prevalent in the South and West and causes large economic losses annually.

Experiences in the dairy herd of the Iberia Livestock Experiment Station over the past 7 years illustrates the hazards of having to contend with the disease. In this herd, 28% of the animals having clinical attacks died and those lactating cows which recovered had an average loss in lactation yield of 26% in milk and 31% in milk-fat. Evidence thus far does not show that the "carrier state" is a serious detriment to production, but introducing susceptible animals into a herd may cause serious losses where the disease and the vectors of the disease are prevalent. This study shows that if susceptible cattle are to be introduced into anaplasmosis areas, they should be under 2 years of age and be brought in during the "off" vector season. There are indications that the incidence of infection can be reduced even though a herd is in an infected area.

¹ The authors wish to acknowledge gratefully the help of G. P. Broussard, Veterinarian, New Iberia, Louisiana, for the diagnosis and treatment of clinical anaplasmosis cases; S. L Cathcart, Iberia Livestock Experiment Station (Retired) in collection of blood samples; and E. E. Roth, Veterinary Science Department, Louisiana State University, for preparation of the blood serums.

² Dairy Cattle Research Branch, Animal Husbandry Research Division, ARS, Beltsville, Maryland.

³ Beltsville Parasitological Laboratory, Animal Disease and Parasite Research Division, ARS, Beltsville, Maryland.

⁴ USDA Iberia Livestock Experiment Station, Jeanerette, Louisiana.

⁵ Veterinary Science Department, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

⁶ Dairy Department, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.