Failure to demonstrate Babesia, Anaplasma or Ehrlichia in thrombocytopenic dogs from St Kitts.
BACKGROUND
Thrombocytopenia is common in dogs on St Kitts but there is no data on the possible etiological role played by infections with Anaplasma, Babesia and Ehrlichia, other than E. canis, which are known to occur in the Caribbean.


METHODS
Blood from 13 thrombocytopenic but apparently healthy dogs seronegative (Snap 3Dx) for E. canis were tested by PCR for Ehrlichia, Anaplasma and Babesia.


RESULTS
All PCRs were negative.


CONCLUSIONS
The results confirm the high sensitivity of SNAP testing for E. canis and indicate Anaplasma and Babesia are not important causes of thrombocytopenia in dogs on St Kitts.
Kelly
Patrick J
PJ
Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, PO Box 334, Basseterre, St. Kitts, West Indies. pkelly@rossvet.edu.kn
Lucas
Helene
H
D000709:Anaplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000712:Anaplasmosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D004536:Ehrlichia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D014900:West Indies
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D016054:DNA, Protozoan