What are the key pieces of epidemiological information for anaplasmosis?
The key pieces of information are: • Movement of infected cattle has spread A. marginale over large distances in the US. • Insect vector (ticks and biting flies) transmission is important for local spread of up to in the order of a kilometre due to desiccation of A. marginale on mouthparts and distances traveled by these vectors. • Iatrogenic spread with blood contaminated fomites (needles, dehorning instruments, surgical equipment) could be addressed through management practices. • There is no evidence to suggest that wildlife play a significant role in the epidemiology of anaplasmosis in North America • Recent studies suggest that wild cervids may not serve as reservoirs for anaplasmosis, thus making it unlikely that they could introduce or disperse A. marginale in Canada. • Performance of diagnostic tests for detecting antibodies to A. marginale in species other than cattle is uncertain and thus any results and conclusions with respect to wildlife must be interpreted with caution. •
