Immune‐mediated haemolytic anaemia and thrombocytopenia associated with Anaplasma phagocytophilum in a dog

Abstract

A 10-year-old, crossbreed dog was presented with a history of severe lethargy, pyrexia and inappetence of several days' duration. Clinical examination revealed pallor of the mucous membranes, petechiae, generalised lymphadenopathy and effusions in multiple joints. Laboratory evaluation showed severe anaemia and thrombocytopenia, with positive in-saline agglutination and the presence of antiplatelet antibodies. The DNA of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, an endemic granulocytic rickettsial parasite, was detected by PCR. A poor response to doxycycline and immunosuppressive therapy with corticosteroids was seen. Euthanasia was performed after the development of disseminated intravascular coagulation. Postmortem examination demonstrated changes consistent with the development of disseminated intravascular coagulation and infection with granulocytic ehrlichiosis. This case documents the presence of canine granulocytic ehrlichiosis caused by A phagocytophilum in the U.K., and highlights the range of clinical signs and clinicopathological abnormalities that may be observed in infected dogs.

Thrombocyte indices in dogs infected with Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum

“…Previous data support that platelet count may be a reliable screening test for canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (2) and canine granulocytic ehrlichiosis (3,4) and that the severity of thrombocytopenia may increase the reliability of diagnosis (2). Albeit the diagnostic and prognostic importance of thrombocytopenia, alterations in values for platelet indices involving plateletcrit (PCT) and mean platelet volume (MPV) in response to aforementioned pathogens are still less recognized and underestimated because of scarcity information.…”

Gray Foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) as a Potential Reservoir of aBartonella clarridgeiae-Like Bacterium and Domestic Dogs as Part of a Sentinel System for Surveillance of Zoonotic Arthropod-Borne Pathogens in Northern California

“…Clinical illness in dogs due to infection with Bartonella spp. (9), A. phagocytophilum (2,31), and Dirofilaria immitis (13), among various vector-borne pathogens, has been reported previously. The identification of infectious agents such as Bartonella spp., A. phagocytophilum, Yersinia pestis, and D. immitis in domestic dogs can also provide important information about the risk of human exposure to these zoonotic pathogens within defined geographic areas, as dogs may serve as sentinel systems indicating the presence of an infectious agent within local arthropod and wildlife populations (9,11,20,43).…”

Infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum in a young dog: a case report

“…Canine granulocytic anaplasmosis has been documented sporadically worldwide, with prevalence varying widely among countries 1996;Pusterla et al, 1998;Liddell et al, 2003;Bexfield et al, 2005;Shaw et al, 2005;Liebisch et al, 2006). The detection of morulae in granulocytes does not identify the agent to the species level and further testing is needed (Cohn, 2003;Sirigireddy and Ganta, 2005).…”