General Information: Anaplasma marginale str. Florida. was isolated from pooled blood samples from naturally infected cattle in Florida. The Florida strain is virulent and non-tick transmitted. This organism is the causative agent of bovine anaplasmosis and is an obligate intracellular pathogen. Transmission occurs via an arthropod vector (tick) and is a major problem in tropical regions where it causes severe morbidity in cattle populations. The bacterium lives intracellularly within membrane-bound vesicles in the host erythrocyte, a cell type which it specifically targets, resulting in severe anemia for the host organism.