Morphologic alteration of Anaplasma marginale in calves treated with a dithiosemicarbazone

Blood and clotted blood samples from 3 calves with anaplasmosis were examined by light and electron microscopies before and after the calves were treated twice with alpha-ethoxyethylglyoxal dithiosemicarbazone (given IV). In the treated calves anaplasma bodies were swollen and irregularly shaped and had rough surfaces when viewed by light microscopy. Posttreatment electron microscopic examinations revealed swelling and vacuolation of initial bodies of anaplasma bodies, and ballooning of the vesicular membrane surrounding the anaplasma body. Other initial bodies were ameboid in shape this was or was not accompanied by rupture of the vesicular membrane of the anaplasma body. Necrotic, ameboid-shaped initial bodies also were seen. Some necrotic initial bodies were surrounded by complete vesicular membrane, and others were close to a broken, curled vesicular membrane.