Anaplasmosis

Abstract

Anaplasmosis is a vector-borne disease caused by bacteria of the genus Anaplasma, which infect a wide range of wild and domestic animals. Currently, there are seven valid species in the genus Anaplasma (i.e., Anaplasma bovis, A. caudatum, A. centrale, A. marginale, A. ovis, A. phagocytophilum, and A. platys), some of which (A. phagocytophilum) are of great zoonotic concern. Biological vectors of Anaplasma species include ixodid ticks belonging to different genera. The prevalence of infection by Anaplasma in domestic animals such as cattle and dogs may vary widely from region to region and according to the level of exposure to tick vectors. The diagnosis of anaplasmosis is usually performed based on epidemiological data, on clinical signs, and on the retrieval of intracellular inclusions in stained blood smears upon cytological examination. Serological and molecular tools are available but most frequently restricted to research. The treatment of anaplasmosis is usually performed with tetracycline- class antibiotics, such as doxycycline, whereas the control of the disease requires a holistic approach whose ultimate aim is to reduce the degree of exposure to tick vectors.