Canine Eperythrozoan Infection
Canine Eperythrozoan Infection is caused by Eperythrozoon canis. It comes under family Rickettsiaceae (Rickettsia) genus Eperythrozoon.
Based on phylogenetic similarities, several members of the genus Eperythrozoon have recently been transferred to the genus Mycoplasma.
Etiology
- Dog: Mycoplasma haemocanis.
- Cat: Mycoplasma haemofelis.
Eperythrozoon species is transmitted mechanically by arthropods (Rhipicephalus sanguineus). Transmission may occur via surgical procedures through blood contamination of instruments.
Clinical manifestation
- Eperythrozoonosis in dogs regarded as an innocuous disease and usually causes only mild anemia.
- Animals with clinical disease have inappetence, wasting, anemia, malaise, and depression. body temperature may be elevated but is often normal.
- Haematology shows a macrocytic hemolytic anemia, with anisocytosis, poikilocytosis, and a marked left shift in erythrocyte maturation. The leukocyte count is normal or slightly elevated.
Lesions
- Subcutaneous haemorrhage
- Hepatomegally and splenomegally
- Ascites
- Bleeding in gastrointestinal mucosa
Diagnosis
- Eperythrozoon sp. is usually coccoid (0.5-1.0 µm diameter).
- In Giemsa-stained peripheral blood smears, they appear attached to the surface of erythrocytes.
- Occasionally, rod-shaped forms (1-3 µm diameter) can be seen.
- It is important to differentiate between acute disease, in which the organism is readily identified in peripheral blood smears, and chronic, subclinical disease, in which animals present with a secondary infection and the organism can be difficult to detect in blood smears.
Differential diagnosis
- Canine Ehrlichiosis (Babesiosis)
- Infectious canine hepatitis
Treatment
- In severely affected animals, transfusion may be required before treatment can begin.
- Tetracyclines, Oxytetracycline and Doxycycline are used at recommended dose rates for 2-3 weeks.
Control
- The use of disposable needles and correct sterilization of surgical instruments will minimize accidental transmission.
- Control of arthropods.
