The persistence of colostral Anaplasma antibodies and incidence of in utero transmission of Anaplasma infections in calves under laboratory conditions

Abstract

Twenty-six calves, born from 25 Anaplasma-infected, intact and splenectomized cows, from a herd kept under strict tick-free laboratory conditions, were monitored for the presence of Anaplasma antibodies, using the rapid card agglutination test. Serum was collected at birth, weekly for 12 weeks, and then monthly for approximately 6 months. Specific antibodies passively acquired could be detected in calf sera for an average period of 8 weeks after birth. Calves that remained positive for longer than 12 weeks were suspected of having contracted in utero infections. Infection of the calves was confirmed by splenectomy. It was concluded that 4 calves in Group I contracted in utero infections. Two of the dams were chronically infected, whilst the other 2 underwent acute primary reactions during the 1st and 2nd trimesters of gestation, respectively. Subsequently all calves born from infected cows in this tick-free herd were serologically screened before being splenectomized at an average age of 8 months. Out of 50 cows, 8 in utero infected calves were identified serologically and this finding was confirmed through splenectomy or subinoculation of blood. Both Anaplasma centrale and Anaplasma marginate were carried transplacentally. Splenectomized and intact cows, chronically infected or undergoing primary reactions during the 1st, 2nd or 3rd trimester of gestation, produced infected calves. A 15,6 % incidence of in utero transmitted infections were observed amongst 77 calves under these conditions. None of the 13 splenectomized cows, undergoing primary A. centrale infections during gestation, aborted. Clinical signs of disease were not observed in any of the 12 in utero infected calves prior to splenectomy. The implications of these findings are discussed.