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Also Known As – Pasture Fever – Tickborne Fever – Ruminant Anaplasmosis – TBF
Caused By – Anasplama phagocytophila, previously known as Ehrlichia phagocytophila
==Introduction==
Tick Borne Fever is a [[Rickettsiales | rickettsial]] disease of sheep affecting the [[Leucocytes | white blood cells]] of sheep and cattle, causing anaemia and seasonal “pasture fever”.
Seasonal pasture fever occurs in cattle that are returned to tick infected pasture in the Spring.
Human granulocytic ehrlichiosis, the zoonotic form of TBF is a potentially fatal disease reported in the UK, Europe and USA.
==Signalment==
TBF naturally affects primarily sheep and cattle, and less commonly, deer, horses and dogs.
==Distribution==
TBF has worldwide distribution including the UK.
TBF is transmitted by [[Ixodes spp]] ticks. Both adults and nymphs can transmit disease.
Transmission is [[Tick Disease Transmission | trans-stadial]].
==Clinical Signs==
TBF causes multisystemic disease, causing cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, respiratory, reproductive and neurological signs, and also lymphadenopathy and wasting disease.
Severe haematological changes including profound anaemia and leucopaenia cause significant clinical signs.
Initial lymphocytopaenia and prolonged neutropaenia are also features of TBF.
A profound eosinophilia will occur for 17-20 days post-infection. <ref>Miert, A. S. J. P. A. Mvan., Duin, C. T. Mvan., Schotman, A. J. H., Franssen, F. F.(1984). Clinical, haematological and blood biochemical changes in goats after experimental infection with tick-borne fever. Vet Parasitology, 16(3/4):225-233; 29 </ref>
Low serum Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) and decreased zinc, iron and albumin are also common biochemical findings, along with high urea, creatinine and bilirubin.
Recovered animals develop immunity but it is unknown how long this is effective for.
==Diagnosis==
Haematological and Biochemical changes as listed above along with marked pyrexia are highly suggestive, especially if historical findings are conducive.
Demonstration of the organism in the [[Leucocytes | leucocytes]] in peripheral blood is confirmative.
On post-mortem examination, the [[Spleen | spleen]] is en;larged and mild liver damage is common.
Lesions within the lung are present and contain mononuclear infiltrate on histopathology.
Thickening, ulceration and haemorrhage of the gastrointestinal tract become worse distally.
The parasites may be visible within the neutrophils in sections of liver and lung.
Antibodies can be detected using Indirect Immunofluorescence (IFAT), Complement Fixation and Immunoelectrophoresis (CIEP).
==Treatment==
E. phagocytophila is susceptible to oxytetracycline, sulphamethazine, sulphadimidine, doxycycline and trimethoprim-sulphonamides.
==Control==
Control of the [[Ticks | tick]] vector is expensive but effective.
Use of [[Ectoparasiticides | ectoparasiticides]] and tick resistant breeds is also valuable.
==Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis==
Causes fever, malaise, headaches, sweats, nausea, confusion, anorexia, vomiting, weakness, diarrhoea, pneumonia, vertigo, seizures, GI bleeding and a skin rash.<ref>Bakken, J. S., Krueth, J., Tilden, R. L., Dumler, J. S., Kristiansen, B. E.(1996). Serological evidence of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis in Norway. Eur J Clin Microbiol Inf Dis, 15(10):829-832; 12</ref>
==References==
<references/>
Animal Health & ProductIon Compendium, Tick Borne Fever datasheet, accessed 06/06/2011 @ http://www.cabi.org/ahpc/
==Literature Search==
==Literature Search==