The effect of management and ecological factors on the epidemiology of anaplasmosis in the Red River Plains and south-east areas of Louisiana.

The relationship between clinical anaplasmosis and other disease morbidity, nutritional supplementation, vaccinations, external and internal parasite control, tetracycline supplementation, reproductive management and use of veterinary services was assessed in 320 beef cow-calf herds in the Red River Plains and south-east areas of Louisiana. Data were collected both by mailed questionnaires and by interviews with owners who reported the presence or absence of clinical anaplasmosis. A relationship was found between other disease conditions and anaplasmosis, suggesting disease as a stressor in Anaplasmosis marginale carrier cattle. The herd location of A. marginale seropositive animals and clinical cases of anaplasmosis were related to areas of bottomland hardwood vegetation in which tabanid flies were abundant. This relationship with vegetation was tested by mapping the location of 209 beef and dairy herds which had been serologically tested for anaplasmosis and 256 cases of clinical anaplasmosis in 113 beef and dairy herds.