ANAPLASMOSIS IN IMPROVED BOER GOATS IN SOUTH-AFRICA ARTIFICIALLY INFECTED WITH ANAPLASMA-OVIS

Blood originating from Boer goat does which had aborted and were suspected to be infected with Anaplasma ovis organisms, was injected into splenectomised does. Anaplasmosis was diagnosed in these splenectomised does 6 days after infection. When 6% of the red blood cells of the splenectomised does was infected, 50 ml of their blood was transferred intravenously to each of 20 non-infected Boer goat does in different stages of pregnancy. A clinical, pathological and haematological study was done on a daily basis on these pregnant does (n=19) and their fetuses for the next 25 days, as well as on all aborted fetuses and kids that died shortly after birth. While confined to their isolation pens, the does showed few noticeable signs of anaplasmosis, but when they were forcefully exercised, the does that developed an anaemia showed rapid fatigue and some showed severe respiratory distress. Ten of the 19 infected does, especially those that developed a high body temperature and severe anaemia, lost their fetuses. It was demonstrated on blood smears that A. ovis organisms migrate through the placenta to the red blood cells of the fetus to cause anaemia and death of the fetus in utero. © 1990.