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Anaplasmosis

Pathogen

Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma platys -bacteria

Vector

Ticks (Ixodes ricinus, other Ixodes-genus wood ticks) and brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus

Geographical distribution

All over Europe, including Finland

Transmission

Anaplasms remain in the tick's salivary glands and are transmitted from the tick to a mammal (e.g. cat and dog) during a blood meal, if the blood meal lasts at least 24–48 hours. Anaplasmas multiply in the dog's white blood cells (granulocytes).

Symptoms

Anaplasma phagocytophilum can acutely cause clinical fever and thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) 1-2 weeks after infection. Milder symptoms may include apathy, decreased appetite, and muscle and bone pain. The development of anaplasmosis into a chronic disease is debatable, but several dogs have co-infections with other tick-borne pathogens such as B. burgdorferi sensu lato or of E. canis with (see borreliosis & ehrlichiosis). Anaplasma phagocytophilum can infect not only dogs and cats but also humans and other mammals. In areas where anaplasms are abundant, many dogs have antibodies against anaplasms, even if they do not have a clinical (symptoms, observable) disease.

Prevention

Regular medication against ticks during the tick season, i.e. when the average temperature stays above a few plus degrees.

References:
ESCCAP 2019 (European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites). Guideline 05 Control of Vector-Borne Diseases in Dogs and Cats, Third Edition.
Estrada-Peña A, Roura X, Sainz A, Miró G, Solano-Gallego L. Species of tick carried pathogens in owned dogs in Spain: Results of a one-year national survey. Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases 2017, 8:443-452 
Sainz A, Roura X, Miró G, Estrada-Peña A, Kohn B, Harrus S, Solano-Gallego L. Guideline for veterinary practitioners on canine ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis in Europe. Parasites & Vectors 2015, 8:75 
​Sykes J, Greene C. Infectious diseases of the dog and cat. 4.p. Elsevier Sounders, St. Louis, Missouri, Yhdysvallat 2011 

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