Observation on dogs found naturally infected with Hepatozoon canis in Italy

Clinical, haematological and laboratory findings recorded in 16 dogs found naturally infected with H. canis in Italy were reported. Clinical signs included depression, anorexia/dysorexia and weight loss (100 % each), slight and serious lymphadenomegaly (37.5 % and 25 %, respectively), fever (25 %), pale mucous membranes and pain on palpation of muscles (6.25 % each). Parasitaemia values ranged from < 1 % to 70 %. Haematological abnormalities were eosinophilia (87.5 %), leukocytosis (43.75 %), neutrophilia (31.25 %), decreased values of HCT (31.25 %), HGB and MCV (25 % each), monocytosis (25 %), lymphocytosis (18.75 %), thrombocytopenia and lymphopenia (6.25 % each), as well as normochromic anaemia, which was mild and microcytic (25 %) or serious, non-regenerative and normocytic (6.25 %). Serum biochemical analyses demonstrated increased CPK (25 %) and total protein (12.5 %), or low A/G ratio (37.5 %) and hypoalbuminaemia (12.5 %). Serum protein electrophoresis revealed β2- (100 %) and β1-hyperglobulinaemia (68.75 %), α1 (68.75 %) and α2-hypoglobulinaemia (25 %), and γ-hyperglobulinaemia (37.5 %). Concurrent pathologies were E. canis or L. infantum (12.5 % each).