Show-Me State Times

University of Missouri researchers are developing the first vaccine proven to protect cattle from bovine anaplasmosis, a devastating tick-borne disease. This research aims to safeguard Missouri’s $1.6 billion cattle industry.

Bovine anaplasmosis, prevalent in Missouri, infects red blood cells and causes significant economic losses both nationally and globally due to reduced cattle production, treatment costs, and fatalities.

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. The process involved genetically modifying the pathogen responsible for bovine anaplasmosis by deleting a specific gene and injecting the modified pathogen into cattle. The vaccinated cattle were successfully immunized against 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 was hired at Mizzou in 2023 as part of a 10-year, $1.5 billion transformational effort focusing on faculty expansion, infrastructure growth, and student success.

Throughout his career, Ganta has published more than 100 studies in peer-reviewed journals and earned 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,” Ganta said. “Mizzou has already made substantial contributions to protecting cattle against ticks.” He noted that many farmers use chlortetracycline—discovered at Mizzou’s Sanborn Field in 1945—to treat their cattle. While effective, it does not fully eliminate infection; thus this new vaccine represents an innovative step forward.

The new vaccine provides protection against bovine anaplasmosis for at least one month. Further research will determine its long-term efficacy. Ganta is also collaborating with industry partners on future distribution plans for the patented vaccine.

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

Mizzou has been leading tick research efforts for years amidst increasing numbers of tick-borne diseases in humid Midwestern climates like Missouri's. Researchers identified invasive longhorned ticks in northern Missouri counties recently while Mizzou’s Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory aids livestock producers with health issue diagnostics.

While not yet commercially available, discussions on future distribution continue between Ganta and industry partners.