The Hidden Killer

A simple three-step program can help eliminate anaplasmosis, which costs Southern beef producers millions of dollars in annual losses.

Patty Scharko, Extension ruminant veterinarian for the University of Kentucky, is recognized as one of the foremost authorities on anaplasmosis and its costly effects on cow/calf operators.

3 Easy Steps After Diagnosis Control, according to Scharko, consists of an injection of long-acting tetracycline after the disease has been diagnosed. The following summer it is vitally important to get on the three-step program outlined below. Control biting insects. These include ticks, horse and stable flies, and mosquitoes. Sprays, back-rubbers and dust bags are effective. Use clean needles and surgical equipment. Scharko prefers that producers use a clean needle for every animal in a known infected herd. At the very least, change needles after vaccinating 10 to 15 animals in all herds to minimize the risk of spreading the disease. Needles should not be disinfected, as this will inactivate modified live vaccines and make them useless. Feed aureomycin (chlortetracycline). It should be fed at the rate of 0.5 milligrams per pound of body weight per day (a minimum of 350 mg per head per day for animals weighing less than 700 pounds).

You may have a killer hiding in your cow herd. Unfortunately, you may not know it until you go out one morning and find one or more dead animals in your pasture.

Each year, anaplasmosis causes thousands of cattle deaths throughout the Southeast. Anaplasmosis is a disease that is caused by a pathogen that invades the red blood cells, keeping them from carrying enough oxygen to the animal's brain and other vital organs.

In worst cases, animals literally suffocate and die. And even if animals do not die, you can lose a lot of money because they won't gain weight or produce milk.

Your local Southern States retailer can help you head off this costly disease by assisting with a simple three-step recommended program. Those steps include: 1) controlling biting insects; 2) using clean needles and surgical equipment and 3) feeding a product containing aureomycin (chlortetracycline, or CTC).

The time to start is right now. Your Southern States dealer can help with expert advice by providing the appropriate insecticide and feed products containing CTC. If you stick with the program, your chances of escaping losses and protecting your herd are excellent.

Some estimates put the national loss to cattle producers as a result of anaplasmosis at more than $100 million annually, figuring an average cost for an infected animal at $400.

Besides death losses, anaplasmosis can reduce reproduction, weight gains and milk production. Infection is more likely in beef animals than in dairy cows.

Patty Scharko, Extension ruminant veterinarian for the University of Kentucky, says the big problem with anaplasmosis is that few producers recognize the disease before it's too late. Generally, only a veterinarian or trained specialist can diagnose it.

"The disease is commonly transmitted in summer from animal to animal by biting insects such as ticks or horse flies," Scharko reports. "It also can be spread through needles used for vaccination or treatment. Usually in late August or September, something triggers the disease.

"They refuse to drink water or eat. The spleen detects the pathogen and tries to destroy the infected red blood cells. But in the process, there aren't enough red blood cells left to supply sufficient oxygen to the animal, and it suffocates," she explains.

"This can happen within 12 to 24 hours," Scharko says. "In some cases, producers may have seen that an animal wasn't doing well, was anemic and was losing weight. Infected animals tend to become weak and lag behind.

"They may either fall or lie down and be unable to rise," she continues. "If producers are observant, they may have noticed that an animal had been constipated and that its manure was very dry and firm like that of a horse.

"But in most cases, producers do not get much warning," the Kentucky specialist adds. "They check their herds daily or every other day, and suddenly find one or more dead animals."

Scharko says that any age animal is susceptible to anaplasmosis, but cows two years old and older are most likely to die. According to research from a number of states, mortality can range from 20 to 50%. Even if they survive, cows can be carriers for the rest of their lives. And they can serve as reservoirs of infection for other animals in the herd, unless you follow a strict program of control and prevention.

Mike Peacock, beef feed sales and marketing manager for Southern States, says the co-op sells several products that contain CTC. Nutra Plus 10G can be mixed into a feed ration, topdressed on feed or incorporated into a mineral mix. Aureo 4G Crumbles can be topdressed or mixed with feed. The medication is also available in Graze-N-Gain Mineral, 2:1 Mineral with CTC, Vit-A-Mag with CTC, and Fly Stop Beef & Dairy Mineral Mix with Altosid and CTC.

Peacock estimates the cost of protection at 3 to 7 cents per head per day with a complete mineral supplement.

CTC not only reduces or removes the carrier state of anaplasmosis, Scharko says. It also greatly reduces, if not totally eliminates, pinkeye, which is a major problem throughout the Southeast. So you basically get the pinkeye protection for free.

An anaplasmosis vaccine is available, but Scharko says it's too expensive for routine use on commercial animals.

Scharko and Peacock recommend that producers make CTC available to their cattle as soon as flies and ticks become active in early summer. And they should keep it available until fall.

The susceptible period may range from 60 days in the upper South to 90 to 120 days along the Gulf Coast.