Rickettsiales and rickettsial diseases in Australia - Murdoch ...

Believed to have been imported into Australia with Boophilus microplus ticks on
cattle in the 19 th century 26 , the economic cost to the country has been great. In
1998 it was estimated that the annual cost in lost farming profits due to tick
fever was around $22 million 26 .
The effectiveness of the A. centrale vaccine is quite variable in Australia and
worldwide 26 . Immunity to A. marginale by inoculation with A. centrale is believed
to be due to the antigenic similarities between them resulting in cross protection
from the animal’s immune system 1 . A new vaccine using a low virulent
Australian isolate of A. marginale has been trialled 23 . The study indicated that
this may serve as a useful vaccine in Australia, although more research into the
safety and potency of the vaccine is required before it can be used
commercially 23 .
Even with the estimated financial impact of this organism and the availability of
commercial vaccines, only around 33% of beef farmers in high risk areas of
Australia vaccinate against tick fever 25 .
1.7.1.2. Canine infectious cyclic thrombocytopenia
(Anaplasma platys)
In 2001, the agent of canine infectious cyclic thrombocytopenia (A. platys) was
first detected in Australia in free-roaming dogs from the Northern Territory 33 .
This was the first report of a member of the Anaplasmataceae infecting dogs in
Australia and was reported as being “among the most exciting discoveries
within the area of canine infectious diseases in Australia in the past decade” 117 .
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