1991 Volume 44 Issue 9 Pages 928-932
Three cases of Hepatozoon canis (H. canis) infection in dogs, which has never been reported in Japan recently, were found from October 1989 to September 1990 in Miyazaki Prefecture. Case 1: a 3-year-old female beagle was presented to our clinic with anorexia, depression, weight loss, pain in the lumber region, and uncurable suppurative traumas in the left hip bone and the left elbow. This dog died 14 days later, although it was treated with tetracycline. Case 2: a 3-year-old male Shetland sheepdog, was presented to our clinic with anorexia, depression, and anemia. This dog was diagnosed as Babesia gibsoni infection. Although it was treated with diminazene diaceturate, the clinical signs associated with babesiosis recurred 5 times during 4 months. After the combined treatments with diminazene diaceture and tetracycline, it recovered from the severe illness. Case 3: a 5-month-old male beagle, was presented to our clinic with anorexia, depression, vomiting and jaundice with leptospirosis being suspected. Although treated with fluid therapy and tylosin, it died 4 days later. In these three dogs gametocytes (or gamonts) of H. canis were found in the leukocytes in the Wright-Giemsa stained peripheral blood smears. The parasitic rate of leukocytes in cases 1, 2 and 3 were about 10%, 0.8%, and 2.2%, respectively. Schizonts (or meronts) were found in the bone marrow and spleen of cases 2 and 3. The persistent and relatively high level of serum creatinine phosphokinase in case 2 during the 4 months observation period might be due to stimuli by the schizonts in the muscle. These cases were diagnosed as H. canis infection complicated with another underlying disease.
