RESEARCH ARTICLES
Molecular detection and control of non- regenerative anaemia associated with Babesia gibsoni and Anaplasma platys co- infection in a dog
Arun George, Usha Narayana Pillai, S. Ajithkumar, T. V. Aravindakshan, K. K. Jayavardhanan, N. Madhavan Unny and Bindu Lakshmanan
doi: https://doi.org/10.51966/jvas.2022.53.1.79-84
Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences.2022.53 (1): 79-84
Author Details
Arun George : Assistant Professor and Ph.D. Scholar Department of Clinical Medicine, Ethics and Jurisprudence College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur- 680 651, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Kerala, India.
Usha Narayana Pillai : Professor and Head, Department of Clinical Medicine, Ethics and Jurisprudence College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur- 680 651, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Kerala, India.
S. Ajithkumar : Professor and Head, Department of Clinical Medicine, Ethics & Jurisprudence, CVAS, Pookode, and Director of Clinics, KVASU
T. V. Aravindakshan : Director, Centre for Advanced Studies in Animal Genetics and Breeding, CVAS, Mannuthy
K. K. Jayavardhanan : Professor and Head, Department of Veterinary Biochemistry,College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur- 680 651, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Kerala, India.
N. Madhavan Unny : Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Medicine, Ethics and Jurisprudence College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur- 680 651, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Kerala, India.
Bindu Lakshmanan : Associate Professor and Head, Department of Veterinary Parasitology,College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur- 680 651, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Kerala, India.
Article History
Received: 14.06.2021 Accepted: 15.08.2021 Published: 31.03.2022
Corresponding author: Arun George
e-mail: arun@kvasu.ac.in
Citation: : Arun, G. Usha, N.P., Ajithkumar, S., Aravindakshan, T. V., Jayavardhanan, K. K., Madhavan, U. N. and Bindu, L. 2022. Molecular detection and control of non-regenerative anaemia associated with Babesia gibsoni and Anaplasma platys co-infection in a dog. J. Vet. Anim. Sci.53(1):79-84.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.51966/jvas.2022.53.1.79-84
Abstract
Anaemia and thrombocytopenia are the common clinical features of blood parasite infection in dogs. Blood parasites previously identified in dogs in Kerala were Babesia gibsoni, Babesia canis vogeli, Ehrlichia canis and Trypanosoma evansi. A two-year old female Labrador Retriever was brought to the University Veterinary Hospital, Mannuthy, Thrissur, with a complaint of anorexia for the past two weeks. A thorough clinical examination did not give any evidence of involvement of other body systems, except for a splenomegaly which was confirmed by radiography. The dog was negative for microfilaria and intestinal parasites. Haematological findings revealed moderate anaemia and thrombocytopenia. Anaemia was classified as non-regenerative based on reticulocyte count. Blood smear was positive for basophilic intra-erythrocytic inclusions suggestive of small babesia and basophilic inclusions in platelets suggestive of morula of Anaplasma spp. Species-specific PCR on whole blood genomic DNA-showed specific amplification for B. gibsoni and A. platys organisms and negative for B. canis vogeli, E. canis and T. evansi. The present study reports a case of non-regenerative anaemia due to B. gibsoni and A. platys co-infection in a dog and its successful therapeutic management. This is the second report of A. platys infection in dogs in Kerala, India.
Keywords: Anaplasma platys, Babesia gibsoni, non-regenerative anaemia, basophilic platelet inclusions
