Theileria orientalis ikeda, a protozoan parasite that infects red and white blood cells and can lead to anemia and, in some cases, death, has been found in Kansas.
The primary insect vector is the Asian longhorned tick (ALT). According to the Kansas Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (KSVDL) ALT has not been found in Kansas but has been found in Missouri, Arkansas and in Oklahoma most recently in the county adjacent to Labette County, Kan.
The disease can be spread through multiuse needles and insect vectors.
KSVDL reports the infected calves in the case were purchased on the East coast and imported into Kansas for feeding.
If you are witnessing any of these clinical signs in cattle of all ages — anorexia, lethargy, dyspnea, icterus or death — please consider this new pathogen.
KSVDL also stresses producers need to be wary of importing cattle without testing for this disease. KSVDL has a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (MDL7130) that identifies both Anaplasma and Theileria. As with all PCR’s, whole blood (purple top tube) is the appropriate antemortem sample. Fresh spleen is the appropriate postmortem sample.
KSDVL has a map of where the disease has been confirmed by KSDVL testing.
For more details on the disease, you can view a webinar produced by KSDVL.
