Table 1. Clinical and laboratory data at the time of initial and follow-up examinations in 3 dogs with serologic and molecular evidence of natural Rickettsia conorii infection*.
| Date of evaluation, 2005 | Physical examination abnormalities | Hematologic, biochemical, and serum electrophoresis abnormalities† | Rickettsia (16S and ompA gene) PCR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dog 1 | |||
| May 31‡§ | Fever (40.1°C), tachycardia, mildly enlarged right popliteal lymph node, blepharitis, hunched posture, stiff gait | Left shift neutrophilia (segmented 11,700; bands: 468) and thrombocytopenia (112). ALT (112), hypoproteinemia (5.0) and hypoalbuminemia (40.4). α2- (16.5) and β1-globulins (13.9)¶ | Positive |
| Jun 8 | No abnormalities | Mature neutrophilia (16,400); hyperglobulinemia (4.3); CRP (2.31); GGT (10.4); α2- (18.5), γ-globulins (23.3); hypoalbuminemia (40.9) | Negative |
| Aug 8 | No abnormalities | No abnormalities | Negative |
| Dog 2 | |||
| Sep 19‡§ | Fever (41°C), ptyalism, joint pain, lameness in right rear limb | Microcytic-hyperchromic anemia (MCHC 63.7; MCV 56; Hct 25.3); mature neutrophilia (11,680)¶ | Positive |
| Sep 28 | No abnormalities | Hyperglobulinemia (4.3); CRP (0.64); α2- (17.5), and γ-globulin (24.6); hypoalbuminemia (41.1) | Negative |
| Oct 25 | No abnormalities | No abnormalities | Negative |
| Dog 3 | |||
| Sep 17§# | Fever (41°C), abdominal pain, dehydration, peripheral lymphadenomegaly (popliteal and prescapular lymph nodes), conjunctivitis | Thrombocytopenia (69); hypoproteinemia (5.3); hypoalbuminemia (28.6); α2- (14.8), β1- (13.0), β2- (15.6), γ-globulins (23.0)¶ | Positive |
| Sep 23‡ | No abnormalities | Lymphocytosis (5,594); hyperglobulinemia (4.1); CRP (2.7); BUN (75); α2-globulin (19.3); hypoalbuminemia (44.9) | Negative |
| Oct 25 | No abnormalities | ↑BUN (54) | Negative |
*ALT, alanine aminotransferase; CRP, C-reactive protein; GGT, γ-glutamyl transferase; MCHC, mean cell hemoglobin concentration; MCV, mean cell volume; Hct, hematocrit; BUN, blood urea nitrogen; ↑, increase. †Reference interval: Hct 38.6%–54.5%; MCV 61–72 fL; MCHC 34–38 g/dL; segmented neutrophils 3,800–8,800/μL; bands neutrophils 0–300/μL; lymphocytes 1,300–4,100/μL; platelets 160–440 × 103/μL); total protein 5.5–7.5 g/dL; globulins 2.6–4.0 g/dL; albumin 53%–65%; α2-globulins 8.0%–14.0%; β1-globulins 2.0%–5.0%; β2-globulins 3.0%–9.0 %; γ-globulins 6.0%–15.0%); BUN 18–43 mg/dL; CRP 0.0–0.15 mg/dL; ALT 15–65 IU/L; GGT 2.0–8.0 IU/L. ‡Treatment with doxycycline (10 mg/kg/once a day by mouth/1 month) was started. §Intravenous fluids were administered. ¶CRP was not measured. #Treatment with ceftriaxone (30 mg/kg/twice a day intravenously/for 5 days) was started.