Exposure to Anaplasma phagocytophilum in two dogs in Belgium

Abstract

In this report, two dogs are described, which were exposed to Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Belgium. The first case was presented for acute weakness and collapse, and was diagnosed with immune mediated hemolytic anemia. Vector-borne serology panel revealed a positive antibody titer for A. phagocytophilum, and the dog recovered during doxycycline therapy. The second patient suffered from an immune mediated glomerulopathy, and concurrently had a highly increased antibody titer for A. phagocytophilum. The relationship between canine granulocytic anaplasmosis and both IMHA and protein-losing nephropathy is unclear in these cases. However, it is suspected that A. phagocytophilum could be associated with kidney injury, as it is described in the second case.