Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with sudden Hepatozoon canis infection and anemia
By Sakuma, Masato et al.·Published in The Journal of veterinary medical science·2009·Faculty of Agriculture, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A case report: a dog with acute onset of Hepatozoon canis infection.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A stray female beagle was brought in with sudden signs of anemia, which can make a dog weak and lethargic. Blood tests showed several issues, including low platelet counts and abnormal protein levels, and special tests confirmed she had an infection caused by Hepatozoon canis. After starting antibiotics, her symptoms improved significantly. While Hepatozoon canis infections are rare, it's important for pet owners to be aware of them and seek veterinary help if their dog shows unusual symptoms like weakness or lethargy.
People also search for: dog anemia symptoms · beagle infection treatment · Hepatozoon canis in dogs
Abstract
We present a clinical overview of a dog with acute onset of Hepatozoon canis infection. A stray female beagle dog of unknown age was referred to Kagoshima University showing anemia. Blood tests revealed the presence of anemia, thrombocytopenia, hyperproteinemia, polyclonal gammopathy, hypoalbuminemia, and elevated creatine kinase and alkaline phosphatase activities. In addition, capsule-like organisms were detected in the cytoplasm of approximately 50% of neutrophils in blood smears. H. canis infection was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing analyses. Amplified DNA fragments revealed 100% identity to the 18S ribosomal RNA gene of H. canis. The clinical symptoms improved after the administration of antibiotics. Hepatozoonosis in dogs is rare, but veterinarians should be alert to its possible acute onset.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19578300/