Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

Chronic Anemia in a Boxer Dog

Julie Tomlinson, DVMMelanie Johnson, DVM, PhD, DACVP

Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine

05-Tomlinson

Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

Signalment/History

• 3-year-old, SF, Boxer Dog• 2 month hx of anemia• Previous treatments:– Multiple blood transfusions– Doxycycline– Prednisone– Vitamin K

Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

Physical Exam

• BAR• Pale mucous membranes• Grade IV/VI systolic murmur

Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

Diagnostics

• CBC – marked anemia (HCT=18.5%)– mild thrombocytopenia– mild mature neutrophilia

• Serum Chemistry - WNL• PT, PTT – WNL• Direct Coombs – positive

Direct Coombs

Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

Diagnostics cont’d

• Thoracic and abdominal radiographs – WNL• Abdominal ultrasound – WNL • Echocardiogram – mild tricuspid regurge

Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

Blood Smear Evaluation• Markedly decreased red cell density• Moderate polychromasia and anisocytosis• Howell-Jolly bodies and metarubricytes• Mild thrombocytopenia• Megaplatelets• Mild left shift• And…………

Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

Ancillary Diagnostics

• Serology– B. gibsoni 1:640– B. canis 1:320

B. gibsoni

B. canis

Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

Ancillary Diagnostics

• Serology– B. gibsoni 1:640– B. canis 1:320

• PCR– Positive for B. gibsoni Asian

genotype

B. gibsoni

B. canis

Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

Canine BabesiosisAmerican Dog tick

Dermacentor Variabilis

• Hemoprotozoan • Genus Babesia• Ixodid tick vectors• Small and large piroplasms• Characterized by• Hemolytic anemia• Thrombocytopenia• Fever• Splenomegaly

Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

Canine Babesiosis

•Small piroplasms• B. gibsoni Asian genotype• B. gibsoni USA/California genotype • B. conradae

• Theileria annae •Large piroplasms• B. canis rossi (Africa)• B. canis canis (Europe)• B. canis vogeli

Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

Pathogenesis

• Tick bite• Sporozoites• Endocytosis• Binary fission• Merozoites• Ingestion by tick• Gametes• Zygote• Hemolymph• Salivary gland

Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

Diagnosis

• Clinical pathology– Regenerative anemia– Thrombocytopenia– Coomb’s positive

• Blood smear• Serology– IFA– ELISA

• PCR

Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

Conclusion

• Tick transmitted hemoprotozoan• Small and large forms• Evolving nomenclature• Speciation • Hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia• Blood smear, Serology, PCR

Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only

References• Birkenheuer AJ, Levy MG, Breitschwerdt EB: Development and evaluation of a

seminested PCR for detection and differentiation of Babesia gibsoni (Asian genotype) and B. canis DNA in canine blood samples. 2003. Clinical Microbiology; 41(9): 4172-4177.

• Boozer L, Macintire D. Babesia gibsoni: An Emerging Pathogen in Dogs. 2005. Compendium; 27(1): 33-41.

• Kjemtrup AM, Conrad PA: A review of the small canine piroplasms from California: Babesia conradae in the literature. 2006. Vet Parasitology; 138: 112-117.

• Muhlnickel CJ, Jefferies R, Morgan-Ryan UM, Irwin PJ: Babesia gibsoni infection in three dogs in Victoria. 2002. Aust Vet J; 80:606-610

• Taboada J, Lobetti R: Babesiosis, in Green CE (ed): Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat, 3rd ed. St. Louis, WB Saunders, 2006, pp 722-736.

• Trapp SM, Messick JB, Vidotto O, Jojima FS, Autran de Morais HS: Babesia gibsoni genotype Asia in dogs from Brazil. 2006. Vet Parasitology; 141:177-180

• Zahler M, Rinder H, Zweygarth E, Fukata T, Maede Y, Schein E, Gothe R: Babesia gibsoni of dogs from North America and Asia belong to different species. 2000. Parasitology; 120:365-369.

Presented at SEVPAC 2008 – Permission granted for use on SEVPAC website only Questions?