Biochemical and hematological aspects of Anaplasma marginale infection in dairy cattle, central Goiás, Brazil

Abstract

Anaplasmosis caused by the intraerythrocytic rickettsia Anaplasma marginale is scattered in cattle from tropical and subtropical areas in several regions of the world. Forty dairy cows, twenty clinically healthy (constituting the control group), and the other twenty with clinical signs suggestive of Anaplasmosis (infected group) were evaluated regarding to biochemical and hematological aspects in the mesoregion of central Goiás, state of Goiás, Brazil. Infected animals manifested parasitemia from 12% on, with severe anemia and development of clinical signs such as marked apathy and prostration, tachycardia and tachypnea, jaundice and fever. Significant statistical differences (p