Clinical manifestations of infectious canine cyclic thrombocytopenia

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Abstract
This paper describes five naturally occurring clinical cases of infectious canine cyclic thrombocytopenia that were the first serologically confirmed cases ofEhrlichia platysinfection in Israel. In the USA this disease is considered subclinical, but the dogs in this study developed distinct clinical abnormalities. The signs observed by the owners included anorexia, lethargy, depression, weight loss and a mucopurulent nasal discharge. The principal findings on physical examination included lymphadenomegaly, pale mucous membranes, fever and the presence of ticks. The main abnormal haematological and biochemical findings included thrombocytopenia, the presence of giant platelets, low haematocrit, monocytosis and low albumin concentrations. All five dogs were less than two years of age, and four were purebred dogs, suggesting that these two factors may be associated with increased risk to infection and clinical disease. Two of the dogs were seropositive toE canis, a finding which is compatible with other reports, and which confirms that combined infections ofE platysandE canisare common; it also suggests thatE canisinfections may contribute to the pathogenesis ofE platys. The distinct clinical manifestation of the disease in these five dogs suggests that there may be a different, more virulent strain ofE platysin Israel.