Implication, clinical and biological impact of vector‐borne haemopathogens in anaemic dogs in France: a prospective study

• Published in: Journal of small animal practice Vol. 58; no. 9; pp. 510 - 518
• Main Authors: Bouzouraa, T., Cadore, J. L., Chene, J., Goy‐Thollot, I., Ponce, F., Chalvet‐Monfray, K., Rannou, B., Chabanne, L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2017; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Anemia; Anemia - complications; Anemia - pathology; Anemia - veterinary; Animals; Dog Diseases - pathology; Dogs; Ehrlichia canis; Ehrlichiosis - complications; Ehrlichiosis - pathology; Ehrlichiosis - veterinary; Female; France; Life Sciences; Male; Males; Polymerase chain reaction; Prospective Studies; Serology; Species; Vector-borne diseases; Vectors (Biology); France
• ISSN: 0022-4510; 1748-5827
• DOI: 10.1111/jsap.12690

Objectives To prospectively describe the clinical and biological impact of vector‐borne haemopathogens in anaemic dogs in France and occurrence of haemolysis. Materials and Methods This prospective descriptive cohort study includes 134 client‐owned dogs that were anaemic on admission at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of VetAgro Sup, Lyon, France. They underwent comprehensive screening with PCR to detect a panel of vector‐borne haemopathogens, SNAP Leishmania and SNAP 4Dx Plus (IDEXX). Results Vector‐borne haemopathogen‐associated anaemia accounted for 17·2% (23/134) of anaemic cases. PCR for Babesia species, Mycoplasma species, Anaplasma platys or Ehrlichia canis and positive serology for Leishmania species, occurred in 11/23, 10/23, 2/23, 1/23 and 1/23 cases, respectively. Two dogs had positive PCR for both Babesia and Mycoplasma species. All dogs infected with Mycoplasma species alone had neoplastic disease. Vector‐borne haemopathogens were the second most common cause of haemolysis (7/23, 30·4%). In the multivariable regression model, males were overrepresented ( OR : 2·82, P=0·03) and haemolysis ( OR : 3·31, P=0·01) was more frequent in dogs with vector‐born haemopathogen‐associated anaemia. Clinical Significance Vector‐borne haemopathogens are a common cause of anaemia in this geographical region.