Ehrlichia phagocytophila

From WikiVet English
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Tick-borne fever

  • Caused by E. phagocytophila which has now been renamed as Anaplasma phagocytophilum
  • 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

Literature Search

CABI logo.jpg


Use these links to find recent scientific publications via CAB Abstracts (log in required unless accessing from a subscribing organisation).


Tick-borne disease testing: canine erhlichiosis and anaplasmosis. Alleman, R.; The North American Veterinary Conference, Gainesville, USA, Small animal and exotics. Proceedings of the North American Veterinary Conference, Orlando, Florida, USA, 17-21 January, 2009, 2009, pp 629-631 - Full Text Article