dog and cat assay data sheet

Anaplasma platys (formerly Ehrlichia platys) - also known as infectious canine cyclic thrombocytopenia (ICCT)

Test code: B0053 - Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of Anaplasma platys by real time PCR

B0053 is included on P0025 - tickborne disease panel

Anaplasma platys (formerly Ehrlichia platys) is a small rickettsia that can cause ehrlichiosis in dogs. It is usually transmitted through the bite of an infected tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) or other arthropod.

A. platys was first reported in 1978 in dogs from Florida; Infectious Canine Cyclic Thrombocytopenia (ICCT) was the name given to the disease caused by this strain. Since then, ICCT has been reported in many areas of the United States and in other regions of the world.

In most previous reports, ICCT was considered a benign disease without obvious clinical signs. Therefore, A. platys was not considered a very pathogenic organism or an important disease-causing agent. However, other investigators have reported more severe clinical signs, similar in severity to those associated with E. canis infections. Dogs infected with these rickettsiae will develop cyclic parasitemia and cyclic thrombocytopenia at 7- to 14-day intervals.

Due to cyclic parasitemia, detection of Anaplasma in blood smears can be difficult. The pathogen appears in stained blood films as a blue intraplatelet organism within vacuoles. Anaplasma inclusions or morulae are generally an incidental finding during routine blood smear examination.

Anaplasma infection can be detected via ELISA or IFA testing. Such serology testing can identify dogs with prior exposure but is not useful for detecting re-infection or carrier status. Examination of blood smears can detect the pathogen but the sensitivity of this technique is very low. Molecular detection by real time PCR, which is very specific and sensitive, is useful to quickly identify this pathogen and confirm dogs’ re-infection or carrier status.

Utilities:

• Confirm the disease causing agent
• Shorten the time required to confirm a clinical diagnosis of Anaplasma platys
• Ensure that animal facilities are free of A. platys
• Early prevention of spread of A. platys among a facility
• Minimize human exposure to A. platys
• Safety monitoring of biological products that derive from susceptible animals

Specimen requirements: 0.5 ml whole blood in EDTA (purple top) or ACD (yellow top) tube.

For specimen types other than those listed here, please call to confirm specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.

For all specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or during very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain frozen in transit. See shipping instructions for more information.

Turnaround time: 2 business days

Methodology: Real time polymerase chain reaction

Normal range: Nondetected