Hematological disorders detected in dogs infected by Hepatozoon canis in a municipality in Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil

Abstract

Hematological disorders detected in dogs infected by ABSTRACTA retrospective review of hematological reports of nine dogs detected with Hepatozoon canis infection by microscopic examination of blood smears in a laboratory in the municipality of Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil was conducted. This study aimed to evaluate the hematological profile of these infected dogs, in addition to the occurrence of coinfections with other agents that infect blood cells, since studies concerning canine hepatozoonosis in Brazil are scarce and there are some divergences regarding H. canis infection that still require a resolution. The nine cases of H. canis infection were identified among all dogs examined at the studied laboratory in 2009 and 2010, with an occurrence of 7/1,192 (0.59%; 95% CI 0.15 -1.02%) positive dogs in the first year and 2/1,313 (0.15%; 95% CI 0.02 -0.55%) cases in 2010. The analysis of the hematological reports showed an occurrence of coinfection between H. canis and other agents in two (2/9; 22.22%; 95% CI 2.81 -60.00%) dogs, one with E. canis and another with Babesia spp. (1/9; 11.11%; 95% CI 0.28 -48.24%). Only the blood test of one dog had no alterations, based on reference values. Anemia was the most frequent hematological alteration (6/9; 66.67%; 95% CI 29.93 -92.51%). Although the occurrence of H. canis infection was low, significative hematological alterations were observed in most infected dogs. Coinfection with Babesia spp. and E. canis was detected in two dogs and the hematological alterations cannot be attributed exclusively to H. canis in these animals. Longitudinal studies would be of fundamental importance to determine the causality of these alterations. These results highlight the importance of differential diagnosis in dogs when there is clinical suspicion of infection by hemoparasites, since the hematological changes in dogs infected by H. canis are quite variable.

Hematological profile of blood parasitic infected dogs in Southern Thailand

“…In contrast, WBC counts were increased in the majority of H. canis -infected dogs (44%), when compared to healthy animals, which is indicative of leukocytosis. Even if a single study reported different results [ 34 ], the high WBC counts hereby observed corresponded to increased neutrophil (48%) and monocyte (37%) numbers, which is consistent with the previous findings [ 18 , 36 ]. This study provided evidence that WBC and neutrophil numbers were 12.80 and 11.11 times more important, respectively, in dogs diagnosed with hepatozoonosis, when compared to reference values.…”

“…Hepatozoonosis was associated with anemia in this study, and RBC indices (RBC count, HGB, HCT, MCH, and MCHC) were below the normal reference ranges in infected dogs, when compared to healthy animals, which is characteristic of normocytic anemia. Anemia is a common finding in canine hepatozoonosis cases, which occasionally can be severe [ 8 , 12 , 18 , 34 , 35 ]. In contrast, WBC counts were increased in the majority of H. canis -infected dogs (44%), when compared to healthy animals, which is indicative of leukocytosis.…”

Characterization of serum protein electrophoresis patterns and C-reactive protein in canine tick-borne diseases

“…The abnormalities in β-globulin concentrations might be due to hypertransferrinemia [16,17]. The total protein of H. canis increased, probably due to hyperglobulinemia caused by the stimulation of the humoral response of the organism to severe chronic inflammation [18,19].…”

Hepatozoon canis infection causing a strong monocytosis with intra‐monocytic gamonts and leading to erroneous leukocyte determinations

“…Hepatozoon canis gamonts were found in the blood monocytes of this dog but were not detected in neutrophils. In most reports, H canis gamonts are described in neutrophils, although in one study H canis infection in both neutrophils and monocytes . Canine monocytes have been reported to be coinfected with H canis and Ehrlichia canis .…”