Anaplasma bovis[1] is gram negative, obligate intracellular organism, which can be found in wild and domestic ruminants, and potentially a wide variety of other species.

This organism has a global distribution, with infections noted in many areas, including Korea,[3] Japan,[4] Europe, Brazil, Africa, and North America.

[2] The clinical syndrome which is now linked to members of the genus Anaplasma have been reported since 1780, although at the time, the actual pathogenic agent was not yet known.

[2] In the early 1900s, many other members of this genus were described and determined to be the causative agent of Anaplasmosis in a wide variety of domestic and wildlife species[5].

[6] With the development of more sensitive molecular methods, there has been a drastic reorganization in the taxonomic classifications of Rickettsial organisms within the past 20 years.

Other members of this genus include the species A. phagocytophilum, A. marginale, A. platys, A. ovis, and A. centrale[7] Anaplasma bovis is a gram negative obligate intracellular bacteria.

Commonly observed forms on a blood smear are small spherical bodies within monocytes that can measure from 0.5 to 6 μm.

[10][11] A. bovis has been found across the world in many different countries, having a significant impact on animal production and the health of wildlife species.

Research is limited on the prevalence and geographic distribution of A. bovis within specific countries, so provides an area for further development within the literature.

North Africa DNA of A. bovis has been reported in domestic species such as cattle, sheep and goats.

[22] In assessing risk factors for infection with Anaplasma, it was found that breed, location, sex, and season impact prevalence rates.

[13] As an obligate intracellular pathogen, A. bovis exhibits cell and tissue tropism by preferentially infecting monocytes.

[2] DNA fragments of A. bovis have also been reported to be found in deer, raccoons, dogs, domestic cats, Hokkaido brown bear, and wildcats in Japan.

[4] Diagnosis of Anaplasma infections relies mainly on visual inspection of blood smears along with molecular methods such as PCR and ELISA.