Occurrence, clinical and haemato-biochemical profiling of Anaplasma platys infection in naturally infected dogs

Anaplasma platys, the causative agent of infectious cyclic thrombocytopaenia in dogs, is an obligate intracellular bacterium transmitted primarily by Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks. The organism invades circulating platelets, forming intracytoplasmic morulae and inducing a cyclic pattern of thrombocytopaenia. The present study was conducted to assess the occurrence and to evaluate the clinical presentations and haemato-biochemical alterations in dogs naturally infected with A. platys. Twelve dogs presented to the University Veterinary Hospital, Kokkalai and Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Mannuthy, positive for A. platys infection were selected for this study. The more frequent clinical signs observed in the affected dogs included anorexia, lethargy, pyrexia and lymphadenopathy. Epistaxis, icterus and seizures were also observed infrequently. Tick infestation was reported in all the affected dogs. Among the positive cases, more numbers were males and of the age three years or more. Majority of dogs were housed outdoors in cages or kennels and more number of cases was observed in summer months. The major haematological abnormalities observed in infected dogs included normocytic normochromic anaemia and marked thrombocytopaenia. Among the biochemical changes, significant hyperglobulinemia was noticed when compared to the control group. The study indicated the presence of A.platys infection among the dogs in this region. It also highlighted the usefulness of clinical and haemato-biochemical profiling in the diagnosis and clinical management of A. platys infections, enabling timely intervention and improved prognosis in the affected dogs.