Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in a dog: identifying the causative agent using PCR.
A diagnosis of Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection was confirmed in a two-year-old male golden retriever displaying few clinical and haematological abnormalities. This was achieved by demonstrating ehrlichial organisms in circulating neutrophils, by indirect immunofluorescence assay using A phagocytophilum as an antigen, and by detecting DNA specific for the 16S rRNA gene of granulocytic Anaplasma by PCR. After treatment with doxycycline for 10 days the dog showed improvement and the laboratory values returned to normal.
INVITRO, Laboratory for Veterinary Diagnosis, A-1030 Vienna, Austria.
G
G
Kirtz
M
M
Meli
E
E
Leidinger
P
P
Ludwig
D
D
Thum
B
B
Czettel
S
S
Kölbl
H
H
Lutz
D041081:Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000662:veterinary; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D004285:Dogs; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000032:analysis
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D004318:Doxycycline