Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma phagocytophilum: Rickettsiales pathogens of veterinary and public health significance.
- Journal:
- Parasitology research
- Year:
- 2015
- Authors:
- Atif, Farhan Ahmad
- Affiliation:
- Department of Animal Sciences
Plain-English summary
Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma phagocytophilum are two types of bacteria that can be spread by ticks and are important for both animal and human health. Anaplasma marginale causes a disease called bovine anaplasmosis, which affects cattle and can lead to significant economic losses in the livestock industry. Anaplasma phagocytophilum can infect various mammals and is known to cause tick-borne fever in domestic animals. Both types of bacteria can be found in ticks and animals in the same areas, and older animals are more likely to get sick. While there is no universal vaccine for these bacteria, tetracycline antibiotics are effective treatments.
Abstract
Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma phagocytophilum are the most important tick-borne bacteria of veterinary and public health significance in the family Anaplasmataceae. The objective of current review is to provide knowledge on ecology and epidemiology of A. phagocytophilum and compare major similarities and differences of A. marginale and A. phagocytophilum. Bovine anaplasmosis is globally distributed tick-borne disease of livestock with great economic importance in cattle industry. A. phagocytophilum, a cosmopolitan zoonotic tick transmitted pathogen of wide mammalian hosts. The infection in domestic animals is generally referred as tick-borne fever. Concurrent infections exist in ticks, domestic and wild animals in same geographic area. All age groups are susceptible, but the prevalence increases with age. Movement of susceptible domestic animals from tick free non-endemic regions to disease endemic regions is the major risk factor of bovine anaplasmosis and tick-borne fever. Recreational activities or any other high-risk tick exposure habits as well as blood transfusion are important risk factors of human granulocytic anaplasmosis. After infection, individuals remain life-long carriers. Clinical anaplasmosis is usually diagnosed upon examination of stained blood smears. Generally, detection of serum antibodies followed by molecular diagnosis is usually recommended. There are problems of sensitivity and cross-reactivity with both the Anaplasma species during serological tests. Tetracyclines are the drugs of choice for treatment and elimination of anaplasmosis in animals and humans. Universal vaccine is not available for either A. marginale or A. phagocytophilum, effective against geographically diverse strains. Major control measures for bovine anaplasmosis and tick-borne fever include rearing of tick-resistant breeds, endemic stability, breeding Anaplasma-free herds, identification of regional vectors, domestic/wild reservoirs and control, habitat modification, biological control, chemotherapy, and vaccinations (anaplasmosis and/or tick vaccination). Minimizing the tick exposure activities, identification and control of reservoirs are important control measures for human granulocytic anaplasmosis.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26346451/