title: Clinical and laboratory features of canine Anaplasma platys infection in 32 naturally infected dogs in the Mediterranean basin.
abstract: Since the first description of Anaplasma platys Infection (ApI), the disease has been sporadically reported worldwide. Whereas it is considered a subclinical disease in the United States or in Australia, severe cases are reported in Europe. Thus far, little information is available regarding the clinical and laboratory findings associated with the disease and the implication of co-infections with other vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) in Southern Europe. The purpose of the study was to describe clinical and laboratory findings in PCR-confirmed naturally infected dogs in the Mediterranean Basin, and to assess the potential impact of co-infections with other VBPs. This is a retrospective analysis of medical records from 32 client-owned dogs diagnosed with ApI using PCR-based assays. Anorexia (62.5%) and weight loss (43.8%) were the major changes, whereas lethargy was less frequent (34.4%). Lymphadenomegaly (43.8%), hyperthermia (40.6%) and hemorrhage (37.5%) were frequent clinical abnormalities, whereas cutaneous signs (31.3%), musculoskeletal disorders (21.9%), splenomegaly (15.6%), dehydration and ocular inflammation (12.5%) were less common. Hematological abnormalities included thrombocytopenia (81.0%), anemia (81.0%), leukocytosis (33.3%) and leucopenia (23.8%). Seven dogs (33.3%) were severely thrombocytopenic. Among the 28 dogs with complete testing, 15 and 13 were mono- and co-infected, respectively. Co-infections included Ehrlichia canis (3 dogs), Leishmania infantum (4), Babesia vogeli (2) and Hepatozoon canis (5). One dog was infected concurrently with Anaplasma platys, Ehrlichia canis and Babesia vogeli. The 1-month mortality rate was 23.9% and only 38.1% improved. In the univariate analysis the 15 mono- and the 13 co-infected dogs did not differ regarding the relative frequencies of clinical and laboratory findings. Sequencing and phylogenetic analyses suggested the existence of 2 different groups of strains: one of them might have higher pathogenicity. In all, ApI was associated with a wide variety of non-specific clinical findings. The most common laboratory findings were thrombocytopenia and anemia. Co-infections were frequent but appeared of limited clinical impact. The absence of improvement despite appropriate treatment, high frequency of hemorrhagic disorders, and case fatalities, suggested the existence of pathogenic European strains supported by subsequent molecular analyses.
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine Interne, VetAgro Sup Campus vétérinaire de Lyon, Université de Lyon, 1 Avenue Bourgelat, 69280 Marcy l'Étoile, France. Electronic address: tarek.bouzouraa@vetagro-sup.fr.
authors.forename: Tarek
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bouzouraa
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Parasitologie, VetAgro Sup Campus vétérinaire de Lyon, Université de Lyon, 1 Avenue Bourgelat, 69280 Marcy L'Etoile, France; Unité d'Épidémiologie Animale (EpiA, UR 0346), INRA Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Route de Theix, 63122 Saint Genès Champanelle, France. Electronic address: magalie.renemartellet@vetagro-sup.fr.
authors.forename: Magalie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: René-Martellet
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Parasitologie, VetAgro Sup Campus vétérinaire de Lyon, Université de Lyon, 1 Avenue Bourgelat, 69280 Marcy L'Etoile, France. Electronic address: jeanne.chene@vetagro-sup.fr.
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chêne
authors.affiliation: Molecular Diagnostic Unit, Langford Veterinary Services, School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, BS40 5DU Bristol, United Kingdom. Electronic address: attipacy@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Charalampos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Attipa
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Épidémiologie Animale (EpiA, UR 0346), INRA Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Route de Theix, 63122 Saint Genès Champanelle, France. Electronic address: isabelle.lebert@clermont.inra.fr.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lebert
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Épidémiologie Animale (EpiA, UR 0346), INRA Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Route de Theix, 63122 Saint Genès Champanelle, France; Département des biologies fonctionnelles, biostatistiques, VetAgro Sup Campus vétérinaire de Lyon, Université de Lyon, 1 Avenue Bourgelat, 69280 Marcy l'Étoile, France. Electronic address: karine.chalvet-monfray@vetagro-sup.fr.
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chalvet-Monfray
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine Interne, VetAgro Sup Campus vétérinaire de Lyon, Université de Lyon, 1 Avenue Bourgelat, 69280 Marcy l'Étoile, France. Electronic address: jean-luc.cadore@vetagro-sup.fr.
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cadoré
authors.affiliation: Merial S.A.S, 29 Avenue Tony Garnier, 69007 Lyon, France. Electronic address: lenaig.halos@merial.com.
authors.forename: Lenaig
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Halos
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine Interne, VetAgro Sup Campus vétérinaire de Lyon, Université de Lyon, 1 Avenue Bourgelat, 69280 Marcy l'Étoile, France; Unité d'Épidémiologie Animale (EpiA, UR 0346), INRA Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Route de Theix, 63122 Saint Genès Champanelle, France. Electronic address: luc.chabanne@vetagro-sup.fr.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chabanne
mesh_terms: D000709:Anaplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000712:Anaplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D019083:Mediterranean Region
keywords: Anaplasma platys; Canine infectious cyclic thrombocytopenia; Dog; Vector-borne disease