Paper presented at the 52nd CFCS Annual Meeting, Guadeloupe, July 10-16, 2016
ANAPLASMOSIS AS AN ENDEMIC DISEASE IN SOUTH TRINIDAD, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, W. I. Ernest Lekisha1, Yarde N.1,Joseph-Emmanuel S.1 , Hosein A.2, Kangaloo D.2 and Singh M.D.1 1
The Department of Food Production, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago; 2 Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Corresponding author- Lekisha Ernest, Email: liky_ernest25@hotmail.com Keywords: Anaplasmosis, Ticks, Ruminant, Tropical livestock, Caribbean agriculture Abstract Anaplasmosis is caused by bacteria of the Anaplasma spp. occurs in most parts of the world. Ticks like Dermacentor andersoni and Boophilus microphilus are unique biological vectors that carry A. marginale in their tissues and can infect large and small ruminants when feeding at subsequent molts or stages of their life cycles. This disease affects production and results in large losses to farmers. Data provided by the St Patrick Animal Health Office of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries indicated a general decline in the incidence of Anaplasmosis from 2004 to 2014. This decrease can possibly be attributed to a number of factors including veterinary interventions, tick surveillance, improvements in animal husbandry and attention to host species. Introduction Diseases affecting food animals in the Caribbean are of significant concern as it impacts on food quality and safety and ultimately food security for the region. Anaplasmosis caused by bacteria of the Anaplasma spp. occurs in most parts of the world (Oie 2012). Ruminants that recover from acute infection remain persistently infected and are protected from clinical disease, serving as reservoirs for mechanical transmission and biological transmission by ticks(Guglielmone 1995; Corrier 1977). The incubation time for the disease is 3-4 weeks on average. Ticks like Dermacentor andersoni and Boophilus microphilus are unique biological vectors that carry A. marginale in their tissues and can infect large and small ruminants when feeding at subsequent molts or stages of their life cycles (Alamzรกn et al. 2008). Anaplasmosis is characterized by progressive anemia due to extravascular destruction of infected and uninfected erythrocytes. Animals with per acute infections succumb within a few hours of the onset of clinical signs. Acutely infected animals lose condition rapidly and milk production falls. Loss of appetite, coordination, breathlessness under exertion and a rapidly bounding pulse are usually evident in the late stages. Pregnant cows may abort. Surviving cattle convalesce over several weeks, during which hematologic parameters gradually return to normal (Thompson et al. 1978; De Wall 2000). Tetracycline antibiotics and imidocarb are currently used for treatment. Cattle may be sterilized by treatment with these drugs and remain immune to severe Anaplasmosis subsequently for at least 8 months. Methods Data provided by the St Patrick Animal Health Office Station of the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries for suspect cases of Anaplasmosis that responded to treatment in South Trinidad were analyzed for the years 2004 to 2014. Results There were 70 suspect cases of Anaplasmosis in bovines in South Trinidad in 2004. In 2014, there were only 46 suspect cases, showing a 37% decline in the suspected incidence of Anaplasmosis.
Figure 1 Reported cases of Anaplasmosis in bovine for South Trinidad during the period 2004 to 2014
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