Evaluation of blood and bone marrow in selected canine vector-borne diseases

Anna Sara De Tommasi ,Gioia Capelli,Silvia Tasca,Gad Baneth,Filipe Dantas‐Torres ,Domenico Otranto,Dorothee Stanneck,Cinzia Cantacessi,Tommaso Furlanello,Edward B Breitschwerdt ,Donato De Caprariis

doi:10.1186/preaccept-1335140742127765

Abstract

Bone marrow (BM) is a major hematopoietic organ that can harbour a variety of vector-borne pathogens; however, knowledge of BM pathological changes in dogs infected with vector-borne pathogens is limited. Thus, the aim of the present study was to assess the pathological changes in canine BM associated with natural infections by four vector-borne pathogens, as well as to determine the relationships between such changes and abnormalities of the peripheral blood. Cytological disorders and pathological changes of the BM of 83 dogs naturally-infected with one or more of four vector-borne pathogens (i.e., Anaplasma platys, Leishmania infantum, Babesia vogeli and Hepatozoon canis) were evaluated and compared with the corresponding hematological findings. Dysgranulopoiesis and dysmegakaryocytopoiesis were the most frequently observed BM abnormalities in infected dogs. Erythroid suppression, and lymphocytic, monocytic and macrophage hyperplasia were also observed. Interestingly, associations between suppression and hyperplasia of specific cell lines in the marrow and corresponding changes in numbers of circulating peripheral blood cells were not observed. Infections with one or more of the vector-borne pathogens examined in this study should be considered as differential diagnoses for secondary dysmyelopoiesis.

Highlights

Bone marrow (BM) is a major hematopoietic organ that can harbour a variety of vector-borne pathogens; knowledge of BM pathological changes in dogs infected with vector-borne pathogens is limited
Out of 83 dogs included in this study, only 5 (6%) had complete blood count (CBC) counts within reference intervals, i.e. one A. platys and H. canis co-infected dog with no blood or BM abnormalities and one H. canis and three L. infantum infected dogs showing BM myeloid and/or megakaryocytic dysplasia, atypical mitosis and suppression of erythroid and/or myeloid lineage
This study provides information on the cytological disorders and pathological changes occurring in the BM of dogs naturally infected by a range of Canine vector-borne disease (CVBD)-causing pathogens

Summary

Introduction

Bone marrow (BM) is a major hematopoietic organ that can harbour a variety of vector-borne pathogens; knowledge of BM pathological changes in dogs infected with vector-borne pathogens is limited. The aim of the present study was to assess the pathological changes in canine BM associated with natural infections by four vector-borne pathogens, as well as to determine the relationships between such changes and abnormalities of the peripheral blood. The bone marrow (BM) is the major hematopoietic organ and a primary lymphoid tissue. Multiple canine vector-borne pathogens can simultaneously infect the same host, thereby causing co-infections, which may exacerbate disease severity vector-borne pathogens (i.e. A_platys, B. vogeli, H. canis and L. infantum) and to determine the relationships between such changes and corresponding peripheral blood abnormalities

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Conclusion