Thrombocyte indices in dogs infected with Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum

Abstract

Objectives: In the present study alterations in trombocyte numbers and trombocyte indices were investigated in 51 dogs naturally infected with E. canis and/or A. phagocytophilum. Achieved results were compared to those of 20 healty dogs comprising control group. Materials and methods: Naturally occuring vector borne diseases were diagnosed by use of a canine point-of-care ELISA kit (Snap 4Dx, Idexx). Dogs were enrolled into 3 groups as follows; II. group involved A. phagocytophilum infected dogs (n=10), III. group (n=13) E. canis+ A. phagocytophilum co-infected, and IV. group (n=28) E. canis infected dogs. Healthy controls (n=20) were enrolled in group I. Results: Mean PLT counts were significantly decreased in II., III. and IV. groups (159.6±63.5, 142.3±44.3, 148.7±33.5, respectively) in comparison to control group (370.4±28.6) (p≤0.01). Mean PCT values in groups II., III. and IV. (0.1530±0.590, 0.1531±0.0441, 0.1450±0.314, respectively) were significantly decreased in contrast to control group (0.3695±0.0283) (p≤0.01). Between PLT and PCT values, statistically significant positive correlation (p≤0.01) (r=0.988, 0.990 and 0.981, respectively) was evident among groups II., III. and IV. Conclusions: Infected dogs showed significant alterations (p≤0.01) among mean PLT and PCT values and a positive correlation was evident between those 2 parameters (p≤0.01), whereas alterations on mean MPV and PDWc were not statistically significant. Finally it was suggested that according to the aforimentioned results, PLT and PCT values may be used as valuable parameters for diagnosis and probably for monitorization and prognosis in infected dogs with Ehrlichiosis and/or Anaplasmosis.