Kouklaki E. DVM, MSc Student, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece | Ninis S. DVM, Clinic of Companion Animal Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece | Ginoudis A. DVM, PhD Student, Diagnostic Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece | Mylonakis M. DVM, PhD, Professor, Clinic of Companion Animal Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
Introduction
Canine pancytopenia is commonly associated with bone marrow aplasia and myelophthisic neoplasms. This report describes a dog with presumptive secondary immune-mediated pancytopenia which recovered without immunosuppressive treatment.
Clinical case
An 8-month-old English Setter dog presented with a history of depression, fever and pancytopenia. Clinical examination revealed fever, submandibular lymphadenomegaly, tonsillar enlargement, and a nodular lesion at the posterior hard palate. Complete blood count revealed pancytopenia with severe neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. Serology for vector-borne infections was negative, with the exception of a low titer against Leishmania infantum. Lymph node and nodular lesion cytology indicated lymphoid hyperplasia and a severe purulent inflammation, respectively. Coombs test was positive. Bone marrow cytological evaluation revealed hypercellularity, maturation arrest of the neutrophilic lineage and hemophagocytic syndrome.
Results
After one month of empirical antibiotic treatment, a complete clinical and hematologic recovery was noticed.
Conclusions
Secondary immune-mediated pancytopenia may rarely occur in dogs. A thorough diagnostic investigation may be warranted for establishing underlying triggering conditions, before starting immunosuppressive treatment.
