Retrospective Case‐Control Study of Hepatozoonosis in Dogs in Israel

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Abstract
Signalment, clinical signs, and physical examination and clinicopathologic findings in dogs diagnosed withHepatozoon cam'sparasitemia (n = 100) were compared with those inHepatozoon‐negative dogs (n = 180). A subset (n = 15) ofHepatozoon‐positive dogs with unusually high (> 800H canisgametocytes/μL of whole blood) parasitemia was compared with dogs that had low parasitemia (n = 85) and with Hepatozoon‐negative dogs (n = 180).Hepatozoon‐positive dogs significantly differed from Hepatozoon‐negative dogs in body temperature, total red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, and platelet count. Dogs with highH canisparasitemia significantly differed from those with low parasitemia in hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, and total neutrophil count. Clinical findings from dogs with highH canisparasitemia included emaciation, lethargy, hyperglobulinemia, hypoalbuminemia, and increased serum alkaline phosphatase and creatine kinase activities. Findings at necropsy included hepatitis, pneumonia, and glomerulonephritis associated withH canisschizonts and extensive parasitism of bone marrow, spleen, and lymph nodes. Low hemoglobin concentration, low platelet count, and concurrent parvovirus infection together represented the best predictor variables forHepatozoonpositivity in dogs presenting to the hospital.