Comparative study of therapeutic protocols used in the treatment of infections caused by rickettsiales in dogs

• Published in: Comparative clinical pathology Vol. 24; no. 3; pp. 555 - 560
• Main Authors: de Almeida, Adriana Jardim, Rodrigues, Hayla Felix, Rodrigues, Ana Bárbara Freitas, Di Filippo, Paula Alessandra, Pinto, Anderson Barros Teixeira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Springer London 01.05.2015; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anaplasma; Canis familiaris; Ehrlichia; Hematology; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Oncology; Original Article; Pathology; Rickettsiales; Hemoparasite; Treatment; Rickettsia; Canine
• ISSN: 1618-5641; 1618-565X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00580-014-1944-4

Tick-borne diseases are caused by rickettsiales microorganisms of the genera Anaplasma and Ehrlichia , and often are diagnosed in dogs ( Canis familiaris ). Therapeutic protocols include antibiotics of different classes, mainly tetracyclines and derivatives. This comparative study contrasts two treatment protocols routinely used in veterinary medicine to treat Rickettsiosis and assesses the respective hematological changes. Dogs used for this research were divided in two groups: group 1, treated with long-acting oxytetracycline 15 mg kg −1 and group 2, treated with doxycycline 10 mg kg −1 . The results showed that blood smears of both groups were negative for rickettsiales after therapy, with no morulae in peripheral blood samples. Hematology findings differed between animals before and after treatments. The most relevant data showed that the most common hematological changes before treatments were thrombocytopenia, anemia, and leukocytosis with eosinophilia. Both treatments were effective to treat dogs infected with Rickettsiales, and platelet counts increased in thrombocytopenic dogs after treatment, in both therapy protocols.