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Cotton Picker,
Certainly not trying to be contentious either but I don't consider it to be medicating without the presence of danger. While I realize we don't keep our kids on antibiotics without them being sick to prevent a cold, the trace amounts of Chlortetracyclene in the minerals are only enough to help prevent the disease from exposure to ticks and flies in beef cattle. If they do end up getting sick, it takes lots of LA-200 to pull them around.
I'm not sure if things are the same in your climate, but around SE Oklahoma if you don't have something in the minerals for antaplasmosis prevention you could be in a bind. One day the cow looks good and the next day she's either dead or near dead. I've always been advised by my vet to keep some minerals out from Spring through Fall with Chlortetracyclene in it to aid cattle during fly season.
I know this is rather lengthy, but I'll post an article about it.
Q: What would be the symptoms of anaplasmosis in a 3-5 year old brood cow? Is there a dependable treatment? Is it generally considered contagious to other cattle in the same location?
A: Anaplasmosis is an infectious disease of cattle, causing destruction of the red blood cells. The disease is caused by a minute parasite, Anaplasma marginale , found in the red blood cells of infected cattle. It may be transmitted from infected animals to healthy animals by insects (usually ticks) or by man via surgical instruments.
After the organism gains entry into a susceptible animal, the anaplasma parasite slowly reproduces in the animal's blood. During an incubation period of 4 to 6 weeks, the animal remains healthy and shows no signs of being infected. Finally, after the parasite has reproduced many times and established itself in the red blood cells of the animal, the body attempts to destroy the parasite. In doing so, the animal's defense system also destroys the infected red blood cells. The loss of a substantial number of red blood cells results in clinical anemia being observed in the infected animal.
Cattlemen may first notice the anemic, anaplasmosis-infected animal when it becomes weak and lags behind the herd. It refuses to drink water or eat. The skin becomes pale around the eyes and on the muzzle, lips, and teats. Later the animal may show constipation, excitement, rapid weight loss, and yellow tinged skin. The animal may fall or lie down, and be unable to rise. The affected cattle either die, or begin a recovery, one to four days after the first signs of the disease. Cattle that survive the clinical disease lose weight, abort calves, and recover slowly over a two or three-month period.
All ages of cattle may become infected with anaplasmosis; however, the severity of illness increases with age. Calves under six months-of-age seldom show enough symptoms to detect that they are infected. Cattle six months to three years-of-age become increasingly ill, and more deaths occur with advancing age. After three years of age, 30 to 50 percent of the cattle which develop clinical anaplasmosis, die if untreated.
Unless adequately medicated, cattle that recover from anaplasmosis remain reservoirs (carriers) of the disease for the remainder of their lives. The carrier animal will not exhibit any clinical signs associated with the persistent low-level A. marginale infection. Nevertheless, the blood from these recovered animals will cause anaplasmosis if introduced into susceptible cattle. Carriers rarely become ill with anaplasmosis a second time. The unidentified carriers in a herd are the most likely source of infection for future outbreaks of the disease.
Treatment of anaplasmosis is most effective if given in the early stage of the disease. A single dose of longacting oxytetracycline (ex. LA-200®) is administered subcutaneously at 9 mg per pound of body weight. Blood transfusions are occasionally used. Animals in later stages of the disease may be so anemic that the stress of handling them will kill them. There is also evidence that antibiotics at this stage are not effective. (Richey, 1999) Therefore, for very weakened or belligerent cattle, antibiotic treatment is not recommended. Contact your veterinarian if you suspect anaplasmosis on your farm. This will allow a positive diagnosis of anaplasmosis to be made and the best course of treatment implemented.
All affected animals should be provided with easy access to food and water and a low-stress environment. It may take surviving animals up to 3 months to completely recover from the disease. Animals treated with a single dose of antibiotics and those not treated at all will both become carrier animals. Carrier animals can be cleared of anaplasmosis with repeated injections of long-acting oxytetracycline or prolonged feeding of chlortetracycline.
Dr. Rick Rasby, Professor of Animal Science
Animal Science, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
October 5th, 2007
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Francismilker
"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" James 5:16
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