Anaplasmosis in Dogs 

How dangerous is anaplasmosis in dogs? 

The good news first: with the right treatment, the disease can also be well managed. 

Nonetheless, the symptoms of anaplasmosis can be severe. In the worst cases, the disease can even be fatal. In weak animals, there is also a risk of the anaplasmosis becoming chronic. 

Symptoms: What are the key signs of illness? 

Anaplasma bacteria infect white blood cells and quickly spread throughout the body, causing various symptoms. Common symptoms include: 

• Joint inflammation (polyarthritis) and fever 
• Lameness 
• Increased tendency to bleed due to a lack of platelets 
• Lack of white and red blood cells (anaemia and leukopenia), which leads to further symptoms like weakness, poor general condition, weight loss, fluid retention (oedema) 
• Enlarged lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy) with swelling of the spleen (splenomegaly) and liver (hepatomegaly) 

Anaplasmosis tends to appear acutely. Following the acute phase, symptoms subside in the subclinical phase. During this time, the pathogens are either completely eliminated, or they remain in the blood cells. 

If the animal’s immune system, weakened by another illness, the anaplasmosis can also become chronic, causing severe symptoms to reappear. 

Fatal cases can occur at any stage of the disease but are fortunately rare. 

Diagnosis: How is anaplasmosis detected in dogs? 

Since anaplasmosis in dogs manifests various symptoms and resembles other diseases like ehrlichiosis or babesiosis, proper diagnosis is crucial. 

If suspicions arise during history taking (anamnesis) and the general clinical examination, your vet will initiate various blood tests, usually carried out in specialised laboratories and typically taking a few days. 

The most common test is the indirect pathogen detection using an immunofluorescence test. However, this can only be conducted from the tenth day after infection since protective proteins (antibodies) cannot be detected earlier. 

A result (titre value) of 1:100 is considered evidence of anaplasmosis. As the formation of protective proteins might be delayed, a negative result should be rechecked after four weeks. 

Besides the indirect method, direct detection of the pathogens is also possible via a blood smear or PCR method (polymerase chain reaction). 

Treatment: What are the options? 

Treating anaplasmosis in dogs involves two components. First, specific medications are administered to kill the pathogens. 

Vets often use antibiotics with the active substance doxycycline or tetracycline, administered over about three weeks. Additionally, the drug imidocarb, effective against single-celled parasites, is available. 

Secondly, the symptoms are treated directly by vets. They can be alleviated through infusions and blood transfusions. For severe inflammatory reactions, cortisone preparations are used. 

Important: After every therapy, the blood should be checked multiple times to quickly intervene in case of any deterioration. 

© tatomm / stock.adobe.com

Prognosis: What are the chances of recovery from anaplasmosis? 

With proper treatment, anaplasmosis in dogs is curable in most cases. However, antibody tests can remain positive for over a year even after recovery. Sadly, re-infection cannot be ruled out. 

Causes: How does the disease occur? 

Anaplasma bacteria, like ehrlichia, are rickettsia. Therefore, anaplasmosis is also called granulocytic ehrlichiosis. 

These pathogens are cell-living bacteria found in the saliva of various tick species. They are transmitted to the dog during the tick’s feeding process. 

The common wood tick (Ixodes ricinus) plays a significant role in our regions. The disease typically occurs from March to November when ticks are most active. 

Approx. half a week after the tick feeding process, the blood cells are infected, especially white blood cells (leukocytes). These are a part of the body’s innate immune system and help identify and destroy pathogens. 

The anaplasma bacteria can quickly spread throughout the body via the bloodstream (bacteraemia), infecting organs like the kidneys, brain, lungs and liver. 

Two different pathogens 

There are two types of anaplasma bacteria, which differ in symptoms and occurrence: 

Anaplasma phagocytophilum: This type causes canine granulocytic anaplasmosis in dogs, cats, humans and numerous other animal species. 

It is widespread throughout Europe. Most dogs develop enough protective proteins (antibodies), so only a few show symptoms. 

For the pathogen to be transmitted, the tick must feed on the host’s blood for at least one to three days. Whether the dog contracts granulocytic anaplasmosis depends on the strain’s specific genetic variant. 

Anaplasma platys: Unlike Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma platys causes cyclic thrombocytopenia. This type is almost exclusively transmitted in southern Europe. The disease often progresses without symptoms and only affects dogs. 

Prevention: How can I avoid anaplasmosis in dogs? 

To prevent anaplasmosis infection, avoid tick-risk areas as much as possible. 

As this is becoming increasingly difficult, the more important tip is: consistently practice targeted tick prevention. There are various products to keep vermin off your dog, including spot-ons, collars or tablets. 

Also, thoroughly check your feline friend for ticks after each walk – especially after long walks in the countryside. By removing ticks quickly, you also reduce the risk of infection.