Hepatozoon canis infection in two dogs

Infection of 60 to 90% of neutrophils with the protozoa, Hepatozoon canis, was detected in 2 dogs. Clinical signs included lethargy, anorexia, and weight loss. Both dogs had severe anemia, leukocytosis, and thrombocytopenia as well as hypoalbuminemia, hyperglobulinemia, and high activities of serum alkaline phosphatase and creatine kinase. Both dogs were treated with imidocarb dipropionate and doxycycline. One dog recovered clinically, with disappearance of parasites from WBC. The other dog died, despite treatment. Necropsy revealed widespread dispersion of schizonts in the parenchymal tissues, but no involvement of skeletal muscle tissues. The disease syndrome that has been identified in the Texas Gulf region is characterized by gait abnormalities associated with multifocal pyogranulomatous myositis, thus, it is distinct clinicopathologically from the syndrome observed in these 2 dogs.