Mycoplasma haemocanis: Sub-clinical and haematological findings in a mongrel dog, Nigeria

Abstract

We report the appearance of Mycoplasma haemocanis in a mongrel dog, which has been documented previously in different parts of the world, yet never in Nigeria. An apparently and clinically healthy mongrel was presented for Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parvoviral enteritis, Parainfluenza (DHLPP) vaccination in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Nigeria, when pyrexia (40.30C) of unknown origin was discovered. Heamatological profile revealed marked responsive macrocytic, hypochromic anaemia and presence of erythrocytic abnormal morphologies such as anisocytosis, schistocytosis, polychromasia and spherocytosis, which suggest autoimmune haemolytic anemia. There was no leukocytosis
despite the presence of band neutrophils, although there was monocytosis with thrombocytopenia. In conclusion this report appears to be the first reported case of Mycoplasma haemocanis in dog in Nigeria. This will help clinicians in the management of haemoparasitic diseases and researchers will not find M. haemocanis as a confounding factor in experimental setup.