Molecular detection of Anaplasma platys infection in dogs in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India- A pioneer report

Abstract

Diagnosis of blood parasites has been based on the morphological identification in a blood smear. However, in recent times with the advent of molecular diagnostic techniques it has been proved that morphological diagnosis alone does not lead to confirmatory results. Taking these criteria into account the current study on canine anaplasmosis was designed. Anaplasma platys and A. phagocytophilum are the etiological agents of Canine anaplasmosis. A. platys appear as inclusions within the thrombocytes and often go unnoticed in a blood smear examination. Clinical signs in A. platys infection are similar to canine ehrlichiosis and hence diagnosis based on clinical signs and blood smear examination seldom lead to confirmatory results. In the current study, a nested-PCR assay was utilized for confirmatory diagnosis of A. platys infection among dogs in Chennai. About 141 blood samples from suspected dogs were collected of which 23 (16.31%) were positive for A. platys. This is the first confirmed molecular evidence on occurrence of A. platys infection in the canine pet population in Chennai.