title: Fatal congenital anaplasmosis associated with bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) infection in a crossbred calf.
abstract: Clinical disease resulting from the vertical transmission of Anaplasma marginale has only been reported on 5 occasions despite studies demonstrating successful in utero transmission. During the reported experimental induction of congenital anaplasmosis in calves, the outcome was variable but mostly led to inapparent or mild infection. There are previous case reports of fatal congenital anaplasmosis following natural infection. The clinical findings in a 2-day-old calf presented to the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital with clinical signs of congenital anaplasmosis, which was unresponsive to treatment, are described. Subsequent post mortem diagnostic tests revealed that this calf was co-infected with bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV). It is postulated that immunosuppression resulting from BVDV infection predisposed to severe, fatal anaplasmosis in this calf.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Services, Western Cape Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Private Bag X1, Elsenburg 7607, South Africa.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Pypers
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Holm
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D042322:Anaplasma marginale; D000712:Anaplasmosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000151:congenital; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001912:Bovine Virus Diarrhea-Mucosal Disease / Q000150:complications*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000151:congenital*; D001908:Diarrhea Viruses, Bovine Viral; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female