Efficacy of long-acting oxytetracycline and imidocarb dipropionate for the chemosterilization of Anaplasma marginale in experimentally infected carrier cattle in Argentina

The expansion of anaplasmosis to non-endemic areas in Argentina has created the need for specific treatments to eliminate Anaplasma marginale from carriers. The most recent studies have failed to chemosterilize A. marginale infections. In this work, we compare the efficacy of long-acting oxytetracycline (OTC) and imidocarb dipropionate (IMD) to chemosterilize the A. marginale infection. For this purpose, twenty steers were randomly clustered into two groups of ten animals each 78 days after A. marginale experimental infection (day 0). Cattle from group 1 (G1) were treated with three doses of 20 mg kg−1 of OTC (Terramycin® LA, 200 mg/ml) 7 days apart by intramuscular injection. Cattle from G2 were treated with two doses of 5 mg kg−1 of IMD (Imizol®, 120 mg/ml) 14 days apart by intramuscular injection. The efficacy of sterilizing treatments was evaluated by detection of DNA by nested PCR, anti-MSP5 antibodies by ELISA and by inoculation of splenectomized calves with blood from the steers 104 days post-treatment (dpt). The results showed 50% efficacy of the OTC treatment to chemosterilize persistent A. marginale infections in cattle and the failure of the IMD treatment under the evaluated conditions. The persistence of specific antibody levels in the sterilized animals (56 dpt) was shorter than the period of DNA detection. The ELISA was the test of choice to confirm the sterilizing outcome after 60 dpt. In spite of its limitations, the sterilization of A. marginale carrier status using OTC, could be useful for high-value bovines in non-endemic areas. •Oxytetracycline showed 50% efficacy to sterilize A. marginale carrier cattle.•Imidocarb failed to sterilize A. marginale carrier cattle.•ELISA was the test of choice to confirm the sterilizing outcome after treatment.•Oxytetraciclyne could be useful to sterilize high-value cattle in non-endemic areas.