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Cold agglutinin activity in 2 dogs
Gabriela Rojas-Temahuay1, Sarah Crain, Catherine Benson
1Clinical Pathology, Veterinary and Zootechnical Faculty, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico.
Veterinary Clinical Pathology
|July 25, 2014
Summary
Cold agglutinin disease in dogs causes red blood cells to clump at cooler temperatures, potentially leading to false results in blood tests and requiring careful interpretation of automated hematology diagnostics.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Hematology
- Immunology
Background:
- Two dogs, a Mastiff and a Labrador Retriever, presented with distinct clinical signs.
- The Mastiff had a history of Ehrlichia canis infection and lameness, while the Labrador had a gingival mass and lipomas with prior mast cell tumor removal.
Observation:
- Both dogs exhibited marked red blood cell (RBC) agglutination in EDTA samples, which resolved upon warming.
- Cold agglutinin activity was confirmed through direct saline agglutination testing at temperatures below 37°C.
Findings:
- Complete blood count (CBC) analysis in the Mastiff showed no significant RBC count differences between room temperature and 37°C.
- However, room temperature runs revealed negative bias in neutrophil and platelet counts due to rapid RBC settling, indicating potential artifacts in automated leukogram and platelet counts.
Implications:
- This case highlights cold agglutinin activity as an uncommon hematologic condition in dogs.
- It emphasizes the potential for subclinical presentation and the critical need to recognize and account for temperature-dependent RBC agglutination to avoid diagnostic errors in automated hematology.
