Hepatozoon canis infection in dogs: clinical and haematological findings; treatment

ABSTRACT Hepatozoon canis gametocytes were identified in the circulating neutrophils of six dogs from different parts of southern Israel. Clinical signs included fever, anaemia, anorexia, weakness of the hind legs and numerous brown dog ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) on the skin surface. Parasitaemia varied from 6 per cent to 43 per cent of the circulating neutrophils. Two of these six cases also showed Ehrlichia morulae in the cytoplasm of leucocytes. Drug therapy with tetracycline hydrochloride 22 mg/kg, three times daily, and imidocarb dipropionate, 6 mg/kg, by subcutaneous injection, repeated after 14 days, was accompanied by clinical improvement and the depression of gametocyte parasitaemia.