Show-Me State Times

University of Missouri researchers are developing the first-ever vaccine proven to protect cattle from bovine anaplasmosis, a devastating tick-borne disease. This research is crucial for Missouri's $1.6 billion cattle industry.

Bovine anaplasmosis infects red blood cells in cattle, causing significant economic losses both nationally and globally due to reduced production, treatment costs, and deaths. Roman Ganta, a McKee endowed professor at Mizzou’s College of Veterinary Medicine and a Bond Life Sciences Center researcher, led the study that created the new vaccine by genetically modifying the pathogen responsible for the disease.

“I often receive calls from cattle producers who are excited about our research and want to know how soon they can get the vaccine,” Ganta said. “There is currently no effective, widely available vaccine for the disease, and cattle farmers are very worried about the disease harming or killing their cattle. We want to help farmers in Missouri and around the world and are working hard to come up with a viable solution.”

Ganta has been researching molecular genetics and vector-borne diseases for over 30 years. He joined Mizzou in 2023 as part of a 10-year, $1.5 billion initiative focusing on faculty expansion, infrastructure growth, and student success.

Throughout his career, Ganta has published more than 100 studies in peer-reviewed journals and secured over $22 million in grants from organizations such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), industry partners, and foundations.

“Missouri is a hotbed for tick-borne diseases, and bovine anaplasmosis causes massive economic losses both here in Missouri and around the world,” Ganta stated. “Mizzou has already made substantial contributions to protecting cattle against ticks. For example, many farmers currently give their cattle an antibiotic called chlortetracycline, which was first discovered at Mizzou’s Sanborn Field in 1945. While effective, that medicine doesn’t fully eliminate the infection; this new vaccine is an innovative step forward.”

The new vaccine provides immunized cattle protection against bovine anaplasmosis for at least a month. Ganta’s team plans further research to determine how long immunity lasts and is collaborating with industry partners on future distribution of the patented vaccine.

“The genetically modified live vaccine offers protective immunity against wild-type Anaplasma marginale tick-transmission challenge” was published recently with funding from NIH and Russell L. Rustici Rangeland and Cattle Research Endowment at University of California, Davis.

Mizzou has been at the forefront of tick research for years. Recent increases in tick-borne diseases have been documented particularly in humid climates like Missouri's. Researchers at Mizzou were also first to identify invasive longhorned ticks in northern Missouri.

Mizzou’s Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory supports livestock producers by identifying health issues affecting their cattle to bolster Missouri’s agriculture industry.

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