Difference between revisions of "Cowdriosis"

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{{Taxobox
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|name              = ''Cowdria ruminantium''
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|kingdom            = Bacteria
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|sub-kingdom        =
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|phylum            = Proteobacteria
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|super-class        =
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|class              = Alphaproteobacteria
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|sub-class          =
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|super-order        =
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|order              = Rickettsiales
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|sub-order          =
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|super-family      =
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|family            = Ehrlichiaceae
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|sub-family        =
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|genus              = Cowdria
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|species            = ''C. ruminantium''
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}}
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===Heartwater===
 
===Heartwater===
  

Revision as of 11:38, 7 June 2011

Cowdria ruminantium
Kingdom Bacteria
Phylum Proteobacteria
Class Alphaproteobacteria
Order Rickettsiales
Family Ehrlichiaceae
Genus Cowdria
Species C. ruminantium


Heartwater

  • Severe disease of ruminants in sub-Saharan Africa caused by Cowdria ruminantium
  • Vectors include Amblyomma ticks
  • Carrier status can occur for up to 8 months in adult cattle and wildebeest
  • Clinical disease in calves and lambs
  • Clinical signs
    • Incubation period 4 weeks
    • Acute fever
    • Neurological signs including chewing, twitching of eyelids, circling, high-stepping gait, convulsions and recumbency; can be fatal
    • Subacute cases suffer from hydropericardium, hydrothorax and pulmonary oedema and congestion; splenomegaly and haemorrhages may occur
  • Diagnosis
    • Clinical and post mortem findings in endemic areas suggestive
    • Orgnisms present in nuclei of endothelial cells in Giemsa-stained brain tissue
    • PCR, indirect immunofluorescence, ELISA and western blot
  • Treatment and control
    • Tetracyclines during early disease
    • Immunisation using infected blood