Response of cattle upon reexposure to Anaplasma marginale after elimination of chronic carrier infections.

Sixteen cattle serotest-negative for anaplasmosis with either no previous exposure (2 animals) or cleared 8 months earlier of their carrier state by chemotherapy (14 animals) were each exposed to Anaplasma marginale. Anaplasma serotest titers were determined by complement-fixation and rapid card agglutination tests conducted during a 63-day trial period. Serologic reactions indicated that all cattle (both groups) were converted to seropositive by the 21st day after exposure. Fluctuations in PCV were seen in the 2 groups between days 21 and 35. However, parasitemia levels were detectable only in the 2 previously unexposed control cattle. Three splenectomized calves, given 10 ml of blood from 3 of the former carrier cattle 14 days after the latter were reexposed, developed severe clinical and hematologic signs of anaplasmosis and seroconverted from negative to positive on both serologic tests. The need to acquire a better understanding of immunity in anaplasmosis is discussed.