Intraoperative Bleeding in Dogs from Grenada Seroreactive to Anaplasma platys and Ehrlichia canis

Abstract

BackgroundFrequent exposure of Grenadian dogs to Rhipicephalus sanguineus results in Anaplasma platys, and Ehrlichia canis seroreactivity. During elective surgeries, substantial intraoperative hemorrhage occurs in some seroreactive dogs.ObjectivesTo assess hemostatic parameters and bleeding tendencies as well as prevalence of PCR positivity in apparently healthy A. platys and E. canis seroreactive and seronegative free‐roaming dogs from Grenada.AnimalsForty‐seven elective surgery dogs allocated to 4 groups: Seronegative control (n = 12), A. platys (n = 10), E. canis (n = 14) and A. platys, and E. canis (n = 11) seroreactive.MethodsPreoperatively, hemostasis was assessed by platelet count, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and buccal mucosal bleeding time. Intra‐ and postoperative bleeding scores were subjectively assigned. Blood, spleen, bone marrow, and lymph node aspirates were tested by PCR.ResultsBleeding scores in dogs coseroreactive for A. platys and E. canis were higher (P = .015) than those of seronegative dogs. A. platys DNA was amplified from 7/21 (33%) A. platys seroreactive dogs and from 1 E. canis seroreactive dog; E. canis DNA was amplified from 21/25 (84%) E. canis seroreactive dogs. E. canis DNA was amplified most often from blood, whereas A. platys DNA was amplified most often from bone marrow.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceApparently healthy, free‐roaming dogs coseropositive for A. platys and E. canis may have increased intraoperative bleeding tendencies despite normal hemostatic parameters. Future investigations should explore the potential for vascular injury as a cause for bleeding in these dogs. Improved tick control is needed for dogs in Grenada.

Demonstrating the presence of Ehrlichia canis DNA from different tissues of dogs with negative PCR in blood

“…Nevertheless, other studies have demonstrated that other tissues besides the spleen are better in detecting E. canis by PCR. For example, some authors describe results similar to those obtained in the present study and show that E. canis DNA was most often ampli ed from bone marrow [52,53]. But, in these cases, there was experimental disease, and PCR was performed using aspirates.…”

Demonstrating the presence of Ehrlichia canis DNA from different tissues of dogs with negative PCR in blood

“…Nevertheless, other studies have demonstrated that other tissues besides the spleen are better in detecting E. canis by PCR. For example, some authors describe results similar to those obtained in the present study and show that E. canis DNA was most often ampli ed from bone marrow [51,52]. But, in these cases, there was experimental disease, and PCR was performed using aspirates.…”

Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis: An Update on Diagnosis and Treatment

“…Bleeding diathesis is also more common and severe in the chronic phase of CME, and in those dogs with concurrent bleeding-predisposing conditions (e.g. infection with L. infantum, A. platys infection, von Willebrand's disease, drug-induced or uremic thrombocytopathy) [38,40]. It is manifested typically as cutaneous and mucosal petechiae and ecchymoses, hyphema, epistaxis, hematuria, melena, prolonged bleeding from venipuncture sites or intraoperative bleeding [16,19,40,41] (Figures 1-4).…”

“…Two previous studies indicated that spleen specimens were of higher sensitivity compared to BM or blood for the confi rmation of subclinical CME [52] and the evaluation of the response to treatment [52,80]. However, other studies, have suggested that the spleen was inferior to other tissues [40,71,77,81].…”