Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Immunoglobulins on red cells and platelets in dogs with Rangelia
By França, Raqueli Teresinha et al.·Published in Microbial pathogenesis·2018·Center of Life, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Surface immunoglobulins of erythrocytes and platelets in dogs naturally infected by Rangelia vitalii.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs infected with Rangelia vitalii, a protozoan parasite, showed signs of severe low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia) and anemia. Blood tests revealed that these dogs had higher levels of certain immune proteins (IgM) on their platelets compared to healthy dogs, suggesting that their immune system was mistakenly attacking their own platelets. Despite the anemia, the dogs did not have an increased number of immature red blood cells (reticulocytes) compared to healthy dogs. The findings indicate that the infection leads to immune-mediated destruction of platelets, which can affect blood clotting. Treatment options for these dogs would typically focus on managing the infection and supporting their blood health.
People also search for: dog anemia treatment · Rangelia vitalii symptoms · dog low platelet count causes
Abstract
Rangelia vitalii is a protozoan of the Babesiidae family that parasitizes domestic and wild dogs in South American countries. The main laboratory findings in blood samples from animals infected by R. vitalii are anemia and thrombocytopenia. The aim of this study was to detect IgM and IgG immunoglobulins on the surface of red blood cells and platelets, as well as to determine the percentage of reticulated platelets and reticulocytes in dogs naturally infected by R. vitalii. Blood samples from twenty dogs seen at the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM) were divided into two groups: the diseased group consisted of blood samples from 10 animals with the diagnosis of rangeliosis, and the healthy group (control) consisted of samples from 10 healthy animals. All diseased dogs showed normocytic normochromic anemia but showed no differences (p > 0.05) in reticulocyte counts compared to healthy dogs. Moreover, IgM and IgG immunoglobulins were detected on the surface of the plasma membrane of red blood cells from both groups, but the amounts did not differ between groups (p > 0.05). Thrombocytopenia in infected animals was classified as severe. The percentage of reticulated platelets was higher (p < 0.001) in diseased dogs than in healthy animals. Diseased animals showed more IgM immunoglobulins bound to the surface of platelets than did the healthy group (p < 0.001). However, the amount of IgG bound to the surface of platelets was not different between groups. In conclusion, we showed that R. vitalii caused immune-mediated thrombocytopenia since IgM immunoglobulins were found on the surface of platelets of diseased dogs. We suggest that the binding of immunoglobulins on platelet surfaces contributes to early destruction of these cells and, consequently, alterations in hemostasis. An increase in reticulated platelets was noted in response to thrombocytopenia, indicating active thrombopoiesis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29800698/