Importance of blood smear in the distinction of hemoparasites: A case report of anaplasmosis

Resumo

This study describes the clinical case of a Jersey female calf, 5 months-old, naturally infected by Anaplasma marginale, from a dairy farm in Salto do Lontra city (Southwest of Paraná State, Brazil). The animal showed clinical signs suggesting haemoparasitosis, determining icteric mucous membranes, increased heart and respiratory rates and 41,2ºC of body temperature. Laboratory examination demonstrated the presence of A. marginale in the blood smear, 12% of parasitaemia, normochromic and normocytic anaemia, leukocytosis by monocytosis and lymphocytosis, gamma glutamyl transferase serum elevation, decrease of serum total protein and albumin, and the increase of total bilirubin serum levels due to the elevation of indirect bilirubin. This study reports the first case of A. marginale identified in the Laboratory for Veterinary Clinical Analysis at Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul (UFFS), Campus Realeza – PR (a new University in the region), highlighting the importance of blood smear in order to identify and discriminate agents causing Complex Bovine Parasitic Sadness.