title: First case of Anaplasma platys infection in a dog from Croatia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is known that Anaplasma (A.) platys, the causative agent of infectious canine cyclic thrombocytopenia, is endemic in countries of the Mediterranean basin. However, few reports are available from the Balkans. This case report describes a dog, which was imported from Croatia to Germany in May 2010. One month later the dog was presented to a local veterinarian in Germany due to intermittent/recurrent diarrhoea. Diagnostic tests were performed to identify infections caused by Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., Hepatozoon canis, Babesia spp., Leishmania spp., Borrelia burgdorferi and/or Dirofilaria immitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Haematological examination of a blood smear revealed basophilic inclusions in thrombocytes, which were confirmed as A. platys with a species-specific real-time PCR. Additionally, an infection with Babesia (B.) vogeli was also detected (PCR and serology). No specific antibodies against Anaplasma antigen were detectable. Although the dog showed no specific clinical signs, thrombocytopenia, anaemia and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) were observed. Sequencing of a 1,348-bp partial ribosomal RNA gene revealed highest homology to A. platys sequences from Thailand, Japan and France.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A. platys was detected for first time in a dog imported from Croatia. As the dog was also co-infected by B. vogeli, unique serological and haematological findings were recorded. Thrombocytopenia, anaemia and elevated values of C-reactive protein were the laboratory test abnormalities observed in this case. A. platys infections should be considered in dogs coming from Croatia and adjacent regions.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Department for Veterinary Sciences, Faculty for Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich, Veterinärstrasse 13, 80539 Munich, Germany. v.dyachenko@lmu.de
authors.forename: Viktor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dyachenko
authors.forename: Nikola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pantchev
authors.forename: Hans-Joerg
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Balzer
authors.forename: Ariane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meyersen
authors.forename: Reinhard K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Straubinger
mesh_terms: D000709:Anaplasma / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000712:Anaplasmosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D000740:Anemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D060085:Coinfection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D017523:Croatia; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005858:Germany; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D002097:C-Reactive Protein