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PATHOGEN SAFETY DATA SHEET

ANAPLASMOSIS

SECTION I : DISEASE / INFECTIOUS AGENT

SYNONYM / CROSS REFERENCE : Bovine Anaplasmosis, Tick Fever ⁽¹⁾, Gall sickness ⁽²⁾

ETIOLOGY / TAXONOMY : ⁽²⁾

Order: Rickettsiales
Family: Anaplasmataceae
Genus: Anaplasma
Species: A. marginale (cattle and wild ruminants), A. ovis (sheep and goats), A. centrale (mild disease in cattle)

ORGANISM CHARACTERISTICS : ^(2,3)

• Obligate, intra-erythrocytic parasite
• Coccoid-shaped or rod-shaped bacteria that requires a living host (a living cell)

SURVEILLANCE :

Anaplasmosis is a reportable disease in Canada. Animal owners, veterinarians and laboratories are required to immediately report the presence of an animal that is infected or suspected of being infected to a Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) district veterinarian. Control or eradication measures will be applied immediately (http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/H-3.3/fulltoc.html).

DISTRIBUTION: ^(1,3)

• The status of Anaplasmosis in Canada is non-indigenous.
• The CFIA has concluded that anaplasmosis is currently not found in Canada, based on periodic surveys of the national cattle population.
• Anaplasmosis is found in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, Cental and South America, southern Europe, and in the USA.
• Infection is endemic in tropical and subtropical areas that support appropriate vectors.

SECTION II : ANIMAL HEALTH HAZARD AND EPIDEMIOLOGY

CLINICAL DISEASE / PATHOGENESIS :

• Clinical bovine anaplasmosis is usually caused by A. marginale. Cattle can also be infected with A.centrale, which generally results in mild disease. A. ovis may cause mild to severe disease in sheep, deer, and goats.⁽²⁾

1) Clinical signs - These vary considerably depending on age of infected animal. Calves rarely show symptoms, but become carriers if infected. Young animals may have only mild clinical signs with little or no death. Adult cattle over 3 years old are the most severely affected.

2) Stages of disease: ⁽⁴⁾

1. Incubation stage:
   • Characterized from initial contact until 1% of red blood cells infected
   • Lasts (3-8 weeks) depending on inoculation dose and age of animal
   • Stage ends with initial increase in body temperature
   • No clinical signs, mild depression
2. Developmental stage:
   • First signs of anemia (worsens over time and can lead to death)
   • Clinical signs become apparent in 4-5 days;
     • weight loss and fever (40-41 °C)
     • fall in milk production
     • marked icterus (yellowing of the eyes, mucous membranes, skin)
3. Convalescent stage:
   • Recovery from anemic state
   • Majority of red blood cells appear normal
   • Recovery may take a few weeks to months
   • Recovering animal may not reach original growth potential
4. Carrier stage:
   • Life-long stage
   • Harbor Anaplasma in blood; not detectable on blood smears
   • Source of new infection for naive, susceptible animals

3) Infectious dose:

• Not known

4) Incubation period:⁽²⁾

• 2 to 8 weeks

SOURCE / MODE OF TRANSMISSION / COMMUNICABILITY :⁽³⁾

• Source of infection is always the blood of an infected animal.
• Biological transmission from animal to animal occurs primarily by ticks and can occur through biting flies (horseflies and deer flies).
• Trans-stadial transmission of the organism occurs in ticks, but there is little evidence for trans-ovarial transmission.
• Mechanical transmission through infected blood on hypodermic needles, dehorning, castrating and ear tagging instruments.

VECTORS : ⁽²⁾

• Ticks (Boophilus, Dermacentor, Rhipicephalus, Ixodes, Hyaloma, Argas, and Ornithodorosi)

HOST RANGE : ^(3,5)

• Ruminants, including cattle, bison, sheep, goats, deer, elk, antelope, giraffes and buffalo.

ZOONOTIC POTENTIAL : ⁽⁶⁾

• Anaplasmosis (A. marginale) cannot be transmitted to humans
• There is a disease named human anaplasmosis, which was formerly known a human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE).This is a bacterial disease transmitted to human by a tick. The causative agent was recently named Anaplasma phagocytophilum.

RESERVOIR : ⁽³⁾

• Carrier animals are the reservoir for herd infection.

SECTION III : DIAGNOSIS

NECROPSY / HISTOPATHOLOGY FINDINGS : ⁽²⁾

• The carcass is generally markedly anemic and is jaundiced.
• Blood appears watery and thin.
• Spleen is enlarged and soft with prominent follicles.
• Liver is enlarged and may be yellow-orange and mottled.
• Gall bladder is often distended and contains thick brown or green bile.
• Hepatic and mediastinal lymph nodes appear brown.
• Epicardial and pericardial petechia and ecchymoses are often present.

SAMPLE SUBMISSION :

• Whole blood
• Serum

All samples should be transported at 4ºC.
For more information regarding the type of samples necessary for anaplasmosis diagnosis, please contact CFIA Lethbridge Laboratory:

LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS : ^(3,4)

• Complement fixation (CF) test is routinely used
• Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) is routinely used
• Rapid card agglutination (RCA) tests, Blood smear (Giemsa or Wright's stain), Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), all of which are available, however not usually implemented

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY :

• The organism is susceptible to tetracyclines, however, treatment of carrier animals with oxytetracycline does not clear infection. ⁽⁷⁾

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS : ⁽⁵⁾

The following diseases may show clinical similarity to Anaplasmosis:

• Babesiosis
• Leptospirosis
• Bacillary hemoglobinuria
• Canola (rapeseed) poisoning
• Chronic copper poisoning
• Eperythrozoonosis

SECTION IV : DECONTAMINATION PROCEDURES

Select a registered disinfectant with a drug identification number (DIN). Use according to label directions for concentration and contact time. Consider organic load and temperature. It is recommended that laboratories evaluate the effectiveness of the disinfectant using a validated method (e.g., Quantitative Carrier Test). See Table 1 to help select a registered disinfectant for use against Anaplasma marginale.

Table 1: Active ingredients considered to be effective against Anaplasma marginale.

PHYSICAL INACTIVATION :

• Decreased activity of infection at temperatures above 37ºC ⁽⁹⁾.

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE OF HOST :

• Survives on fomites such as hypodermic syringes and dehorning equipment ⁽¹⁾.

SECTION V : LABORATORY HAZARDS FOR HUMANS

LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS :

• None

BIOSAFETY PRECAUTIONS :

• None

SECTION VI : PHYSICAL AND OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS :

All physical containment and operational practices for containment level 2, as per the Containment Standards for Veterinary Facilities must be met.
The Standards can be accessed at : http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/sci/lab/convet/convete.shtml.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT :

Laboratory:

• Disposable gloves (e.g. intact nitrile, vinyl or latex), laboratory coats or gowns

Post Mortem:

• Disposable gloves (e.g. intact nitrile, vinyl or latex), laboratory coats or gowns
• Cut resistant gloves, steel toed/steel shanked rubber boots

HANDLING INFORMATION :

SPILLS IN LABORATORY :

Spill protocol must be in place and include the following scenarios:

• Spills inside the Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC)
• Spills outside the BSC
• Spills while performing aerosol generating procedures
• Also consider entry and exit procedure modifications if necessary, appropriate PPE, disinfection of spill and surroundings including contact time, flow (pattern) of the clean up and disposal of contaminated materials.

Refer to Table 1 for disinfectant selection.

STORAGE : All cultures and infected material should be stored in leak-proof, sealed containers that are accurately labelled and clearly identified as a biohazard risk. The access to infectious material should be controlled at all times. Records must be kept to describe the use, inventory and disposal of infectious material.

DISPOSAL : Decontaminate all infectious material prior to disposal. Use steam sterilization, incineration or chemical disinfection.

REFERENCES :

1. Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Animal Health and Products Division, Anaplasmosis Fact sheet: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/disemala/anaplasmos/anaplasfse.shtml.
2. Merck Veterinary Manual, Anaplasmosis Fact sheet.
   http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/10401.htm&hide=1.
3. Radostits OM, Gay CC, Blood DC, and KW Hinchcliff. Veterinary Medicine, A Textbook of the Diseases of Cattle, Sheep, Pigs, Goats and Horses. Ninth Edition. W.B. Saunders Company Ltd. 2000. Pp. 1261-1265.
4. North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs. Animal Health Programs. Anaplasmosis.
   http://www.ncagr.com/vet/Anaplasmosis.htm.
5. Regional Animal Health Services, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Fiji Islands, Anaplasmosis Fact Sheet. http://www.spc.int/rahs/manual/BOVINE/ANAPLASMOSISE.HTM
6. Minnesota Department of Health Fact sheet: Human Anaplasmosis Information for Health Professionals. http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/anaplasmosis/hcp.html.
7. Coetzee JF, Apley MD, Kocan KM, Rurangirwa FR, and Van Donkersgoed J. (2005) Comparison of three oxytetracycline regimes for the treatment of persistent Anaplasma marginale infections in beef cattle. Vet. Parasitol. 127(1):61-73.
8. Block SS. Disinfection, Sterilization, and Preservation. Fifth Edition. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. 2001. Pages 195 and 234-5.
9. Kocan KM, Barron SJ, Holbert D, et al. (1982) Influence of increased temperature on Anaplasma marginale Theiler in the gut of a Dermacentor andersoni stiles. Am J Vet Res. 43(1): 32-35.
10. OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health). Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals. 2004. Chapter 2.3.7. Bovine Anaplasmosis. http://www.oie.int/eng/normes/mmanual/A_00058.htm.

LAST UPDATED: 2005/10/21
PREPARED BY: The Biohazard Containment and Safety Unit, CFIA

Disclaimer: Although the information and recommendations in this Pathogen Safety Data Sheet are compiled from reliable sources, there is no guarantee, warranty or any assurance that the information and recommendations are correct, accurate, sufficient, reliable or current and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency shall not be responsible for any loss or damage resulting from or in connection with the use of or reliance upon the information and recommendations.

The user assumes all risks and responsibility for and shall be liable for the use of and any reliance on the information and recommendations and the results thereof and any loss or damage resulting therefrom.

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