Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Hepatozoon canis infection and blood changes in dogs from Punjab
By Qamar, Muhammad et al.·Published in Vector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.)·2017·1 Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Molecular Detection and Prevalence of Hepatozoon canis in Dogs from Punjab (Pakistan) and Hematological Profile of Infected Dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs in Pakistan were tested for a tick-borne parasite called Hepatozoon canis, which can cause serious illness. Out of 151 dogs, 18 were found to be infected, with the highest rates in Islamabad. Infected dogs showed signs of anemia, such as lower red blood cell counts and hemoglobin levels, which can lead to weakness and other health issues. The study suggests that veterinarians use a specific blood test (PCR) to detect this parasite in dogs showing symptoms of illness.
People also search for: dog vomiting and anemia · Hepatozoon canis symptoms in dogs · tick-borne diseases in dogs · dog blood test for parasites
Abstract
The intraleukocytic parasite, Hepatozoon canis, causes the sometimes fatal tick borne disease canine hepatozoonosis. In this study, dogs from Islamabad, Lahore, and Multan Districts of the Punjab region of Pakistan were surveyed to investigate the presence and prevalence of H. canis infection and to determine the effects of the parasite on hematological parameters. Blood samples were collected from 151 domestic dogs (149 pet, 2 stray) of both sexes and varying ages. Data on sex, age, tick infestation, and clinical factors (body temperature, mucous membrane status, and presence of hematuria and vomiting) were collected. Using PCR, 18 dogs (11.9%) were found positive for the presence of H. canis DNA. Partial sequences of the 18S rRNA gene shared 99-100% similarity with the corresponding H. canis isolates. This epidemiological survey revealed higher prevalence of H. canis in Islamabad (11/49, 22.4%) compared to Lahore (3/52, 5.8%) and Multan (4/50, 8%) in Pakistan. No investigated epidemiological or clinical factors were found to be associated with the presence of H. canis (p > 0.05) in dogs. H. canis positive dogs exhibited higher minimum inhibitory dilution (p = 0.04), mixed inclusion (p = 0.008) and relative distribution width of red blood cells (p = 0.02), and lower hematocrit (p = 0.03) and mean hemoglobin content (p = 0.03) than did dogs in which H. canis was not detected. We are recommending this PCR-based protocol to the veterinary practitioners for the detection and/or confirmation of H. canis in dogs suspected for hepatozoonosis to improve their health status.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27841956/