UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

Bovine anaplasmosis is a tick-borne haemoparasitic disease caused mainly by Anaplasma marginale, an obligate intraerythrocytic organism of the order Rickettsiales. The disease is commonly associated with fever, anaemia, weakness, respiratory distress and reduced productivity in cattle. This case report describes the clinical diagnosis and therapeutic management of anaplasmosis in a 1.5-month-old male cattle calf presented to the Veterinary Clinical Complex, Kumarganj, Ayodhya. The calf had a history of inappetence, rapid breathing, lethargy, respiratory distress, anorexia, lachrymation and head pressing. Clinical examination revealed fever, with a rectal temperature of 105.6°F, and pale oral and conjunctival mucous membranes. A blood sample was collected in an EDTA vial for laboratory evaluation. Giemsa-stained thin blood smear examination revealed intraerythrocytic organisms consistent with Anaplasma marginale. Faecal examination was negative for endoparasitic eggs or other parasitic evidence. Haematological findings indicated anaemia, with a red blood cell count of 3.6 × 10⁶/µL, haemoglobin concentration of 4 g/dL, packed cell volume of 19.8%, and total leukocyte count of 3 × 10³/µL. Therapeutic management was undertaken by administering long-acting oxytetracycline @ 20 mg/kg body weight by deep intramuscular injection, along with supportive therapy including colloidal fluid, haematinics, multivitamins, folic acid and cyanocobalamin. On follow-up after 10 days, the calf showed clinical improvement, and blood smear examination was negative for A. marginale. Continued haematinic and nutritional support was advised.