Occurrence of Leishmania chagasi, Trypanosoma cruzi, Babesia canis vogeli, Anaplasma platys, and Ehrlichia canis in canine blood donors

Abstract

The transfusion of blood components is common in a veterinary clinic; however, the safety of this therapeutic measure cannot always be guaranteed. Studies show a high risk of haemoparasite transmission during blood transfusion in canines. These parasites include Leishmania chagasi, Anaplasma platys, and Ehrlichia canis, which are endemic to the city of Cuiabá. This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of L. chagasi, Trypanosoma cruzi, Babesia (canis) vogeli, A. platys, and E. canis in canine blood donor candidates, and identify possible factors associated with the infection of these agents. Sixty-six canines were evaluated using serologic and molecular tests, for the presence of the Leishmania species. While one canine sample showed a positive result for L. chagasi with indirect fluorescent antibody test, with titer of 1:40, and seven canine samples were positive using DPP, all other samples were negative when using PCR and ELISA. All canines were negative for T. cruzi when using PCR. The B. (c.) vogeli infection was identified in one canine and A. platys was identified in six canines. E. canis was identified in 17 canines, with a prevalence of 25.7%. There were no significant factors associated with the infection of the pathogens investigated. Given the observation of infection, even in the absence of clinical symptoms, emphasis must be placed on the need for the use of more sensitive and specific diagnostic methods for the screening of donor canines.

Molecular survey for the presence of tick-borne haemoparasites in dogs and ticks from the Atlantic Forest environment, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil

“…The low prevalence of B. vogeli infection was expected, especially since a subclinical form of infection may be present when apparently healthy animals are evaluated. The result is comparable with other studies in Brazil; for example, Cruz et al (2017) examined canines without evidence of clinical disease in Cuiabá, Central-West Brazil and also found only one animal infected by B. vogeli. Recently, Temoche et al (2018) detected B. vogeli in 1.4% of dogs tested in Peru by conventional PCR.…”

Association of Veterinary Hematology and Transfusion Medicine (AVHTM) Transfusion Reaction Small Animal Consensus Statement (TRACS) Part 2: Prevention and monitoring

“…Four veterinary studies (LOE 3–5, good) demonstrated that PCR in addition to serological tests, or compared to serological tests alone, was useful in identifying selected blood‐borne infections in canine and feline blood donors. Screening by PCR should be included in an integrated approach to evaluate potential blood donors for Leishmania infantum , 14 Ehrlichia canis , Anaplasma platys , and for Babesia vogeli in candidate canine blood donors in the absence of clinical symptoms 15 . PCR was the only test that could identify dogs infected by Mycoplasma haemocanis , 16 and cats infected by feline haemoplasmas Mycoplasma haemofelis , M. haemominutum , and M. turicensis , as serologic assays are not currently commercially available and cytologic evaluation of blood smears has too low sensitivity for these pathogens 17 .…”

“…Screening by PCR should be included in an integrated approach to evaluate potential blood donors for Leishmania infantum, 14 Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, and for Babesia vogeli in candidate canine blood donors in the absence of clinical symptoms. 15 PCR was the only test that could identify dogs infected by Mycoplasma haemocanis, 16 and cats infected by feline haemoplasmas Mycoplasma haemofelis, M. haemominutum, and M. turicensis, as serologic assays are not currently commercially available and cytologic evaluation of blood smears has too low sensitivity for these pathogens. 17 PCR is the only test that identifies antigenic serological negative but provirus positive FeLV infected cats.…”

“…Therefore, the use of seropositive but PCR‐negative dogs as donors is considered acceptable. This could be particularly useful in areas endemic for E. canis , A. platys , B. vogeli 15 L. infantum , Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia canis , Rickettsia conorii , and R. rickettsii infections 18 …”