Case report: Hepatozoon sp. in a canine in Bogotá
This case report describes a diagnosis of hepatozoonosis in Bogotá in a one-year-old mixed-breed female dog, successfully treated with imidocarb dipropionate. The patient initially presented with persistent cough, organomegaly, poor body condition, and mucosal pallor. A complete blood count revealed normocytic normochromic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and hyperglobulinemia, suggesting hemoparasitism as the primary differential diagnosis. Hepatozoon sp. was confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), leading to the initiation of specific treatment with imidocarb dipropionate, supplemented with atropine and doxycycline to target potential coinfections. Clinical and hematological follow-up showed significant improvement, with resolution of anemia and thrombocytopenia. This case highlights the importance of including Hepatozoon canis in the differential diagnoses in areas above 2,600 meters above sea level, particularly in dogs from shelters, due to the risk of underdiagnosis in non-endemic areas and the potential for vertical transmission. The occurrence of hepatozoonosis in Bogotá suggests an emerging risk for the region, emphasizing the need to disseminate this case along with the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches used. In this context, the availability of molecular tools, such as PCR, is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective management of this infection in newly affected areas.
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| Format: | Digital revista |
| Language: | eng |
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Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Sede Bogotá - Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia
2024
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| Online Access: | https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/remevez/article/view/111992 |
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| Summary: | This case report describes a diagnosis of hepatozoonosis in Bogotá in a one-year-old mixed-breed female dog, successfully treated with imidocarb dipropionate. The patient initially presented with persistent cough, organomegaly, poor body condition, and mucosal pallor. A complete blood count revealed normocytic normochromic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and hyperglobulinemia, suggesting hemoparasitism as the primary differential diagnosis. Hepatozoon sp. was confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), leading to the initiation of specific treatment with imidocarb dipropionate, supplemented with atropine and doxycycline to target potential coinfections. Clinical and hematological follow-up showed significant improvement, with resolution of anemia and thrombocytopenia. This case highlights the importance of including Hepatozoon canis in the differential diagnoses in areas above 2,600 meters above sea level, particularly in dogs from shelters, due to the risk of underdiagnosis in non-endemic areas and the potential for vertical transmission. The occurrence of hepatozoonosis in Bogotá suggests an emerging risk for the region, emphasizing the need to disseminate this case along with the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches used. In this context, the availability of molecular tools, such as PCR, is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective management of this infection in newly affected areas. |
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