title: Immunological anomalies and thrombocytopenia in 117 dogs and cats diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
abstract: Retrospective analysis of immune dysfunctions found in 55 dogs and 62 cats diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), revealed leukopenia in 11% of dogs (n = 6) and 22.5% of cats (n = 14), lymphopenia in 14.5% of dogs (n = 8) and 10% of cats (n = 6), hypogammaglobulinaemia in 9% of dogs (n = 5) and 13% of cats (n = 8) and thrombocytopenia in 20% of dogs (n = 11) and 68% of cats (n = 42). All patients had creatine kinase enzyme levels above the normal range (CK = 5-100 IU/L) and carried micrococcus-like organisms on erythrocytes. Blood cultures proved positive for Staphylococcus spp. in 16 cases. After low-dosage arsenic-based therapy (thiacetarsamide sodium) all animals experienced complete clinical remission. Subsequent controls demonstrated immune restoration in 4 representative FIV-FeLV negative cats, previously diagnosed with CFS associated with leukopenia, lymphopenia, hypogammaglobulinaemia and thrombocytopenia. The main conclusion is that a CFS-like disease in dogs and cats, characterised by the common hallmarks of high CK levels, absence of known causes of chronic fatigue in animals and presence of micrococcus-like organisms in the blood, can be associated with humoral and/or cellular immune deficiencies in 9-22.5% of cases and with thrombocytopenia in 20-68% of cases. Considerations are made on the possible role of micrococci in the aetiology of the condition and on the similarities with CFS in humans.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Veterinaria Airone of Nus, Aosta, Italy. wtarello@yahoo.it
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tarello
mesh_terms: D000361:Agammaglobulinemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D001148:Arsenamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002415:Cats; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004285:Dogs; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D003402:Creatine Kinase; D001148:Arsenamide