Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Anaplasma infection found in dogs with low platelets in Italy
By De Arcangeli, Stefano et al.·Published in Veterinaria italiana·2018·Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Italy·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in thrombocytopenic dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Two dogs in Northern Italy were found to have a tick-borne infection called Anaplasma phagocytophilum, which can lead to low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia) and other health issues. Despite showing symptoms and having abnormal blood tests, neither dog was diagnosed with this infection when they were first seen by a veterinarian. The study highlights the challenges in diagnosing this type of infection in dogs, as it can present with a range of symptoms that may not be immediately recognized. Unfortunately, the outcome for these dogs isn't detailed, but the findings emphasize the importance of considering tick-borne diseases in dogs with low platelet counts.
People also search for: dog low platelet count symptoms · Anaplasma infection in dogs · tick-borne disease treatment for dogs
Abstract
Anaplasma and Ehrlichia spp. are tick-transmitted bacteria of clinical relevance in European dogs. The diagnosis of infection is often difficult due to the wide spectrum of disease caused by them. During infection, reduction in platelet count is considered the most common haematological abnormality, frequently representing the sole alteration in asymptomatic dogs. In this study, the presence of bacteria belonging to the genera Anaplasma and Ehrlichia was investigated in Northern Italy in blood samples from 159 thrombocytopenic dogs using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay amplifying a portion of the heat shock gene (groEL). Obtained amplicons were sequenced and analysed. Two dogs were positive for A. phagocytophilum, while A. platys and E. canis were not detected. None of the PCR-positive dogs were diagnosed at the time of hospital admission, even in the presence of clinical signs and clinicopathological abnormalities potentially related to A. phagocytophilum infection. Nucleotide sequence analysis showed that the 2 detected strains belonged to the cluster Europe 1 and were different from each other. This study confirms the presence of A. phagocytophilum infections in dogs of Northern Italy, causing clinical signs and laboratory abnormalities that could not be properly diagnosed and treated.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29631317/