Canine haemobartonellosis
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Description
The mycoplasmal bacteria Haemobartonella canis causes haemolyic anaemia in dogs. The organism is transmitted by ticks and causes clinical signs by attaching to the outside of red blood cells. Clinical signs are usually mild except in cases where the animal has had a previous splenectomy or is undergoing chemotherapy and has a compromised immune system.
Signalment
Disease usually affects adult dogs.
Diagnosis
Clinical Signs
- Mild-moderate anaemia
- Pale mucous membranes
Laboratory Tests
The organism can be identified on a blood smear stained with a Giemsa-Wright stain. PCR can also be used to detect the organism and sme cases will be Coomb's test positive.
The parasitaemia is cyclic and therefore the organism will not always be identified in the blood.
Treatment
Treatment with doxycline, tretracycline or oxytetracycline is usually effective. Supportive treatment of blood transfusions may be needed in severe cases. Glucocorticoids can also be administered. The PCV should be monitored until it has returned to a normal level and clinical signs have resolved.
Prognosis
Infection with H. canis is usually non-pathogenic unless animals have had a previous splenectomy or chemotherapy, in these cases the prognosis depends on the severity of clinical signs and level of concurrent disease but treatment is usually successful.
References
- Blood, D.C. and Studdert, V. P. (1999) Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary (2nd Edition) Elsevier Science
- Tilley, L.P. and Smith, F.W.K.(2004)The 5-minute Veterinary Consult (Third edition) Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
Caused by Haemobartonella canis.