Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Vector-borne disease links to blood and kidney issues in retired
By Kidd, Linda et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2022·Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Vector-borne disease and its relationship to hematologic abnormalities and microalbuminuria in retired racing and show-bred greyhounds.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of retired racing greyhounds was tested for various vector-borne diseases (VBD) after showing signs of low platelet counts and protein in their urine. The study found that 7 out of 30 of these greyhounds tested positive for at least one VBD, while only one show-bred greyhound tested positive. The most common infections in the racing greyhounds were from Bartonella and Babesia species. However, the overall rates of low platelets and other health issues were lower than expected, suggesting that while these dogs are at risk, the impact may not be as severe as previously thought.
People also search for: greyhound low platelet count · retired racing greyhound health issues · vector-borne diseases in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Reference intervals for platelets and white blood cell (WBCs) counts are lower in greyhounds than other breeds. Proteinuria is common. Vector-borne diseases (VBD) cause thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, and proteinuria. Racing greyhounds are commonly exposed to vectors that carry multiple organisms capable of chronically infecting clinically healthy dogs. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Vector-borne disease prevalence is higher in retired racing greyhounds than in show-bred greyhounds. Occult infection contributes to breed-related laboratory abnormalities. ANIMALS: Thirty National Greyhound Association (NGA) retired racing and 28 American Kennel Club (AKC) show-bred greyhounds. METHODS: Peripheral blood was tested for Anaplasma, Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, hemotropic Mycoplasma, and Rickettsia species using PCR. Antibodies to Anaplasma, Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia species and Borrelia burgdorferi were detected using immunofluorescence and ELISA assays. Complete blood counts, semiquantitative platelet estimates, and microalbuminuria concentration were determined. RESULTS: Seven of 30 NGA and 1/28 AKC greyhounds tested positive for ≥1 VBD (P = .05). More positive tests were documented in NGA (10/630) than in AKC dogs (1/588; P = .02). Exposure to Bartonella species (3/30), Babesia vogeli (2/30), Ehrlichia canis (1/30), and infection with Mycoplasma hemocanis (3/30) occurred in NGA dogs. Platelet counts or estimates were >170 000/μL. White blood cell counts <4000/μL (4/28 AKC; 5/30 NGA, P > .99; 1/8 VBD positive; 8/51 VBD negative, P = .99) and microalbuminuria (10/21 AKC; 5/26 NGA, P = .06; 1/8 VBD positive; 14/25 VBD negative, P = .41) were not associated with VBD. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The prevalence of thrombocytopenia and B. vogeli exposure was lower than previously documented. Larger studies investigating the health impact of multiple VBD organisms are warranted.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35816034/