New vaccine protects cattle from a common tick-borne disease

Photo: Abbie Lankitus/University of Missouri

University of Missouri (MU) researchers have created the first vaccine proven to protect cattle from bovine anaplasmosis.¹ The vaccine was the product of a study led by Roman Ganta, a McKee endowed professor in UM’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and Bond Life Sciences Center researcher. In the study, researchers genetically modified the pathogen that causes bovine anaplasmosis, Anaplasma marginale. Deleting a specific gene, then injecting the modified pathogen into the cattle, left the vaccinated cattle immunized against the disease.¹

“I often receive calls from cattle producers who are excited about our research and want to know how soon they can get the vaccine,” Ganta said in a news release.¹ “There is currently no effective, widely available vaccine for the disease, and cattle farmers are very worried about the disease harming or killing their cattle. We want to help farmers in Missouri and around the world and are working hard to come up with a viable solution.”

Bovine anaplasmosis infects the red blood cells of cattle and is typically transmitted by tick vectors.¹ Once infected, cattle typically remain carriers for the rest of their lives. The most common clinical signs of cattle infected with the disease are anemia and jaundice, with additional signs potentially including rapidly decreased milk production and/or weight.² The clinical disease can only be confirmed by identifying the organism, and identification of infected cattle is dependent on the detection of specific antibodies through serological tests, or rickettsial DNA, through molecular amplification techniques.²

Valued at $1.6 billion, the cattle industry is crucial to Missouri’s economy. Bovine anaplasmosis causes millions of dollars in economic losses across the United States each year, and almost $1 billion in losses worldwide.¹ These losses can be attributed to reduced cattle production, treatment costs, and deaths caused by the disease.

“Missouri is a hotbed for tick-borne diseases, and bovine anaplasmosis causes massive economic losses both here in Missouri and around the world,” Ganta said.¹ “[MU] has already made substantial contributions to protecting cattle against ticks. For example, many farmers currently give their cattle an antibiotic called chlortetracycline, which was first discovered at [MU]’s Sanborn Field in 1945. While effective, that medicine doesn’t fully eliminate the infection, so this new vaccine is an innovative step forward to fully eliminate the infection.”

According to Ganta, the new vaccine has been proven to protect immunized cattle against bovine anaplasmosis for at least 1 month.¹ Ganta and his team of researchers are excited to conduct further research to confirm the true duration of the immunity provided by the vaccine. The vaccine has already been patented, and Ganta is currently working with industry partners on plans to distribute the vaccine to cattle producers.

References

1. New vaccine created by Mizzou researchers protects cattle from deadly tick-borne disease. News release. The University of Missouri. August 28, 2024. Accessed September 3, 2024. https://showme.missouri.edu/2024/new-vaccine-created-by-mizzou-researchers-protects-cattle-from-deadly-tick-borne-disease/
2. Bovine anaplasmosis. Woah. Accessed September 3, 2024. https://www.woah.org/en/disease/bovine-anaplasmosis/