Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
PCR test finds Haemobartonella canis infection in Great Dane dog
By Brinson, J J & Messick, J B·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2001·Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Use of a polymerase chain reaction assay for detection of Haemobartonella canis in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
An 8-year-old spayed Great Dane was diagnosed with an infection caused by Haemobartonella canis while undergoing immunosuppressive chemotherapy after having her spleen removed. The diagnosis was confirmed through a specialized test called polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and further analysis of her blood. This test, originally designed for cats, proved effective in detecting the infection in this dog. The findings suggest that this PCR test could be useful for identifying Haemobartonella canis in dogs before they undergo procedures like blood donation or treatment with immunosuppressive drugs.
People also search for: Great Dane infection treatment · dog blood donation risks · immunosuppressive drugs in dogs
Abstract
A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) originally developed for detection of Haemobartonella felis in cats was successfully used for detection of H canis in an 8-year-old spayed Great Dane. The dog had been splenectomized and was undergoing immunosuppressive chemotherapy at the time of diagnosis. Sequence analysis of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene revealed that the Haemobartonella spp infecting this dog was 97% homologous to the sequence previously reported for the Ohio strain of H felis. Clinical and hematologic abnormalities as well as identification of the organisms by use of light and electron microscopy supported the diagnosis of H canis. The PCR assay used for detection of H felis may be useful for the detection of H canis in dogs prior to blood donation, splenectomy, or treatment with immunosuppressive drugs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11417738/