Ehrlichia phagocytophila

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Tick-borne fever

  • Caused by E. phagocytophila
  • Affects ruminants in Europe
  • The tick Ixodes ricinis is the main vector
  • Animals remain carriers for up to 2 years, but are immune to reinfection
  • Clinical signs
    • Incubation period of 2 weeks; recovery in 2 weeks
    • Fever, anorexia, reduced growth rates in young animals
    • Reduced milk production, abortion, still birth
    • Leukopenia and thrombocytopenia
    • Causes immunosuppression in young lambs causing susceptibility to tick pyaemia and louping ill
  • Diagnosis
    • Intracytoplasmic morulae in neutrophils of Giemsa-stained blood smears during acute phase
    • Seroconversion detected by immunofluorescence
  • Treatment and control
    • Oxtetracycline
    • Tick control
    • Prophylactic tetracyclines for lambs during first few weeks of life