title: Intraoperative bleeding in dogs from Grenada seroreactive to Anaplasma platys and Ehrlichia canis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Frequent exposure of Grenadian dogs to Rhipicephalus sanguineus results in Anaplasma platys, and Ehrlichia canis seroreactivity. During elective surgeries, substantial intraoperative hemorrhage occurs in some seroreactive dogs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess hemostatic parameters and bleeding tendencies as well as prevalence of PCR positivity in apparently healthy A. platys and E. canis seroreactive and seronegative free-roaming dogs from Grenada.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven elective surgery dogs allocated to 4 groups: Seronegative control (n = 12), A. platys (n = 10), E. canis (n = 14) and A. platys, and E. canis (n = 11) seroreactive.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preoperatively, hemostasis was assessed by platelet count, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and buccal mucosal bleeding time. Intra- and postoperative bleeding scores were subjectively assigned. Blood, spleen, bone marrow, and lymph node aspirates were tested by PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bleeding scores in dogs coseroreactive for A. platys and E. canis were higher (P = .015) than those of seronegative dogs. A. platys DNA was amplified from 7/21 (33%) A. platys seroreactive dogs and from 1 E. canis seroreactive dog; E. canis DNA was amplified from 21/25 (84%) E. canis seroreactive dogs. E. canis DNA was amplified most often from blood, whereas A. platys DNA was amplified most often from bone marrow.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Apparently healthy, free-roaming dogs coseropositive for A. platys and E. canis may have increased intraoperative bleeding tendencies despite normal hemostatic parameters. Future investigations should explore the potential for vascular injury as a cause for bleeding in these dogs. Improved tick control is needed for dogs in Grenada.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George's University, St. George's, Grenada.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lanza-Perea
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Zieger
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Qurollo
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Hegarty
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Pultorak
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumthekar
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bruhl-Day
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Breitschwerdt
mesh_terms: D000709:Anaplasma; D000712:Anaplasmosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004285:Dogs; D041061:Ehrlichia canis; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D019425:Grenada / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time / Q000662:veterinary; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000662:veterinary; D011517:Prothrombin Time / Q000662:veterinary
keywords: Hemostasis; Infection; Rickettsia; Ticks