Prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection and effect on lamb growth

Grøva, Lise; Olesen, Ingrid; Steinshamn, Håvard; Stuen, Snorre

doi:10.1186/1751-0147-53-30

Cited by 46 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…We observed that lambs that developed clinical signs of TBF had a slightly lower weight gain at later time points (Week 6 and 15) compared to clinically healthy lambs. In accordance with our results, weight reduction as a consequence of an A. phagocytophilum infection has been indicated in several studies (Stuen et al, 1992, Stuen et al, 2002Grøva et al, 2011). Hence, sheep farmers may experience both indirect loss (i.e.…”

Section: Tbf and Body Weightsupporting

confidence: 92%

Exploring hair cortisone concentration as a novel tool to assess chronic stress in sheep with tick-borne fever

Stubsjøen

Sørheim

Chincarini

et al. 2018

Small Ruminant Research

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A B S T R A C TTick-borne fever (TBF), caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum and transmitted by the tick Ixodes ricinus, has considerable consequences for animal welfare and economy in the sheep industry. Non-invasive, objective methods to quantify chronic stress are needed in order to evaluate the welfare impact of disease. The aim of this study was 1) to evaluate hair cortisol (HC) and hair cortisone (HCn) as biomarkers of chronic stress in sheep with TBF and 2) to test whether there was an association between the development of TBF and concentrations of HC, HCn and faecal cortisol metabolites (FCM) and body weight. The experiment took place in an area with a high prevalence of TBF, and thirty lambs were used in the study. Wool samples were collected in Week 0, in Week 3 (before turn out on homeland spring pasture), in Week 6 (before turn out on summer rangeland pasture) and at the end of the summer (Week 15). Faecal samples were collected every week (ie. Week 0-6 and Week 15). Symptoms of TBF developed in 15 lambs, of which all recovered from the disease after treatment with antibiotics. HC levels decreased progressively, and significantly, between Week 0, 3, 6 and 15 (p < 0.001), while HCn only decreased from Week 0 to Week 3 (p < 0.001) and then remained stable between Week 3-15. FCM increased between Week 0 and 5 (p = 0.027), and a significant association was found between increased FCM levels in Week 5 and lambs developing clinical signs of TBF (p = 0.022). We also found an association between lambs developing clinical signs of TBF and elevated HCn levels in Week 6 (p = 0.013). A slightly lower weight gain at later time points (Week 6 and 15) were found in the affected lambs compared to clinically healthy lambs. Our results indicate local production and/or metabolism of glucocorticoids in the hair follicles. This study strengthens our previous finding of a potential merit of hair cortisone as a biomarker of chronic stress in sheep.

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Section: Tbf and Body Weightsupporting

confidence: 92%

Exploring hair cortisone concentration as a novel tool to assess chronic stress in sheep with tick-borne fever

Stubsjøen

Sørheim

Chincarini

et al. 2018

Small Ruminant Research

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“…In contrast, earlier studies indicate a weight reduction of 1.4-3.8 kg in the autumn between seropositive and seronegative lambs [26,27]. An earlier report also indicates that spring treatment of ewes and lambs with cypermectin pour-on produced 6% more lambs at weaning and the treated lambs were 1.5 kg heavier than untreated lambs [28].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Prophylactic treatment with flumethrin, a pyrethroid (Bayticol®, Bayer), against Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in lambs

Stuen

Enemark²,

Artursson

et al. 2012

Acta Vet Scand

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BackgroudAnaplasma phagocytophilum (formerly Ehrlichia phagocytophila) causes the disease tick-borne fever (TBF) in domestic ruminants and has for decades been one of the main scourges for the sheep industry in the coastal areas of Norway. Current control strategies are based on reduction of tick infestation by chemical acaricides.MethodsIn the present study, we investigated if frequent pour-on applications of pyrethroids would reduce tick infestion rate and seroprevalence of A. phagocytophilum infection in sheep. Forty lambs, one month old, of the Norwegian White Sheep breed were used. The lambs belonged to the experimental sheep flock at the Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences. None of the lambs had been on I. ricinus infested pasture before turnout (day 0). All lambs were twins and twenty lambs were treated with a pour-on pyrethroid (Bayticol®, Bayer A/S, DK-2300) with a dose of 5 ml on days 0, 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, 84, 98, 112 and 128. Twenty lambs were untreated controls. The lambs were collected every fourteen days on pasture for treatment. In addition, the lambs were examined for ticks, blood sampled, weighed, and rectal temperature was recorded.Results and conclusionA significant reduction in tick infestion rate was detected on treated lambs. However, the present results indicate that frequent acaricide treatment does not reduce the seroprevalence to A. phagocytophilum on tick-infested pasture.

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“…Abortion in ewes and reduced fertility in rams have also been reported. In addition, reduced weight gain in A. phagocytophilum infected bullocks and lambs have been observed (Taylor and Kenny, 1980; Stuen et al, 1992; Grøva et al, 2011). …”

Section: Clinical Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anaplasma phagocytophilum—a widespread multi-host pathogen with highly adaptive strategies

Stuen¹,

Granquist²,

Silaghi³

2013

Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol.

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476

438

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The bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum has for decades been known to cause the disease tick-borne fever (TBF) in domestic ruminants in Ixodes ricinus-infested areas in northern Europe. In recent years, the bacterium has been found associated with Ixodes-tick species more or less worldwide on the northern hemisphere. A. phagocytophilum has a broad host range and may cause severe disease in several mammalian species, including humans. However, the clinical symptoms vary from subclinical to fatal conditions, and considerable underreporting of clinical incidents is suspected in both human and veterinary medicine. Several variants of A. phagocytophilum have been genetically characterized. Identification and stratification into phylogenetic subfamilies has been based on cell culturing, experimental infections, PCR, and sequencing techniques. However, few genome sequences have been completed so far, thus observations on biological, ecological, and pathological differences between genotypes of the bacterium, have yet to be elucidated by molecular and experimental infection studies. The natural transmission cycles of various A. phagocytophilum variants, the involvement of their respective hosts and vectors involved, in particular the zoonotic potential, have to be unraveled. A. phagocytophilum is able to persist between seasons of tick activity in several mammalian species and movement of hosts and infected ticks on migrating animals or birds may spread the bacterium. In the present review, we focus on the ecology and epidemiology of A. phagocytophilum, especially the role of wildlife in contribution to the spread and sustainability of the infection in domestic livestock and humans.

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Prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection and effect on lamb growth

Cited by 46 publications

References 28 publications

Exploring hair cortisone concentration as a novel tool to assess chronic stress in sheep with tick-borne fever

Exploring hair cortisone concentration as a novel tool to assess chronic stress in sheep with tick-borne fever

Prophylactic treatment with flumethrin, a pyrethroid (Bayticol®, Bayer), against Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in lambs

Anaplasma phagocytophilum—a widespread multi-host pathogen with highly adaptive strategies

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