RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in dogs is analogous to that in humans. Romiplostim, a novel thrombopoietin receptor (TPO-R) agonist, is currently used for the treatment of refractory ITP in humans, but not in dogs. Here, we describe the response to romiplostim in five dogs with refractory ITP. Five dogs with severe and refractory ITP (three primary and two secondary) received romiplostim subcutaneously. Four dogs were administered 3-5 µg/kg and one dog received 10-13 µg/kg body weight once weekly. RESULTS: Romiplostim was well-tolerated and administration was associated with an increase in platelet counts in all five dogs. Four of the five dogs entered remission and relapses were not observed over a follow-up period of 3-10 months. CONCLUSIONS: Romiplostim is effective in the treatment of ITP in dogs at least as well as in humans. This finding may help to develop and use new therapeutics for ITP in dogs and humans.
Assuntos
Doenças do Cão/tratamento farmacológico , Receptores Fc/uso terapêutico , Receptores de Trombopoetina/antagonistas & inibidores , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/uso terapêutico , Trombocitopenia/veterinária , Trombopoetina/uso terapêutico , Animais , Cães , Trombocitopenia/tratamento farmacológicoRESUMO
Tick-transmitted spotted fever group Rickettsiae (SFGR) are considered emerging disease pathogens in Europe. To assess the situation in Germany, a seroepidemiologic survey of dogs (n=605, which have never left Germany) was conducted to determine the prevalence of antibodies to SFGR. For this purpose, a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test for all SFGR was used. A total of 78% of the dogs were positive for antibodies of the SFGR, and there was a positive correlation between age, tick-infestation, and seropositivity. There was no correlation between clinical state, location, and seropositivity, suggesting that infection with rickettsia is neither related to the health condition of the dogs nor to their abode in Germany. According to our results, all of Germany can be considered as an endemic area for SFGR. This should be taken into account when assessing the epidemiology of human rickettsioses and their impact on public health.
