First report on the molecular characterization and successful treatment of Anaplasma platys infection in a dog from Tripura, northeast India.

Abstract

This study presents the first report of the molecular characterization of Anaplasma platys infection in the Bangladesh-India border region, specifically in the state of Tripura, along with its successful treatment. Anaplasma platys is a rickettsial organism transmitted by hard ticks that infest dogs, with marked thrombocytopenia and anemia being among the most important clinical manifestations, related to the formation of morulae in the platelets. A dog with a history of suspected anaplasmosis was presented for clinical investigation. Hematological analysis revealed a hemoglobin level of 6.8 g/dL, a hematocrit of 19.4%, a total red cell count of 3.5 × 10¹²/dL, a total white cell count of 7.8 × 10⁹/dL, and a platelet count of 48 × 10⁹/dL. Upon microscopic and molecular examination, A. platys was identified as the causative organism responsible for the alterations in blood parameters. Treatment involved the intravenous administration of doxycycline at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight once daily for five days, followed by oral doxycycline tablets at the same dosage for 15 days. The dog showed gradual improvement and complete recovery within 20 days of treatment. Molecular characterization and phylogenetic inference targeting the 16S rRNA gene revealed low divergence within the species.