Nucleic acid levels in Anaplasma marginale during experimentally induced bovine anaplasmosis

The DNA and RNA concentrations in uninfected and Anaplasma marginale-infected bovine erythrocytes were determined. Bovine anaplasmosis was experimentally induced and the nucleic acid levels were followed during the development of the A. marginale infection. Two distinct growth stages were found, the "multiplication" stage and the "transfer" stage. Based on this hypothetycal developmental cycle, the amount of DNA and RNA per Anaplasma initial body was estimated as 73.1 x 10(-3) pg and 45.7 x 10(-3) pg respectively.