Newly recognized Anaplasma sp. in erythrocytes from Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus).
Vet Clin Pathol
; 49(1): 17-22, 2020 Mar.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32060958
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
In 2015, a previously unrecognized intracytoplasmic erythrocytic inclusion was discovered in anemic wild-caught adult gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus). Subsequently, molecular diagnostics revealed this inclusion to be a novel Anaplasma sp.OBJECTIVES:
The goal of this study was to morphologically characterize these erythrocytic inclusions by light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).METHODS:
Blood samples were taken from two car-injured wild-caught gopher tortoises for the preparation of Wright-Giemsa stained smears and TEM specimens. CBC data were serially performed and morphologically examined during treatment periods.RESULTS:
Studies revealed a moderate to severe anemia with moderate regeneration as indicated by polychromasia and the presence of immature erythroid precursors. In addition, on light microscopy, one to two variably-sized round basophilic stippled paracentral erythrocytic inclusions were present per cell in both animals and involved 10%-25% of erythrocytes. TEM identified the intraerythrocytic inclusions as discrete membrane-bound cytoplasmic vacuoles (morulae) containing membrane-bound bacterial subunits that were of variable size, shape, and electron density. Serial hematologic data indicated complete remission of the infection in response to a single long-term course of doxycycline.CONCLUSIONS:
The presence of a regenerative anemia in gopher tortoises from Florida revealed a newly recognized bacterial species that has morphologic characteristics similar to members of the genus Anaplasma.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Turtles
/
Doxycycline
/
Anaplasma
/
Anaplasmosis
/
Anemia
/
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Vet Clin Pathol
Journal subject:
MEDICINA VETERINARIA
/
PATOLOGIA
Year:
2020
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States