Successful Management of Presumed Reactivation of Neospora caninum Following Immunosuppression for Immune Thrombocytopenia in an Adult Doberman

ABSTRACT A 5‐year old, vaccinated, untravelled and neutered female Doberman with occasional exposure to raw food presented for investigation of severe thrombocytopenia and anaemia. Extensive investigations led to a diagnosis of non‐associative immune thrombocytopenia, with secondary bleeds resulting...

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Main Authors: Perrine Henry, Paul Rees, Tyler Morrison, Glynn Woods
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-07-01
Series:Veterinary Medicine and Science
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.70425
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author Perrine Henry
Paul Rees
Tyler Morrison
Glynn Woods
author_facet Perrine Henry
Paul Rees
Tyler Morrison
Glynn Woods
author_sort Perrine Henry
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT A 5‐year old, vaccinated, untravelled and neutered female Doberman with occasional exposure to raw food presented for investigation of severe thrombocytopenia and anaemia. Extensive investigations led to a diagnosis of non‐associative immune thrombocytopenia, with secondary bleeds resulting in anaemia. Management with repeated packed red blood cell transfusions, vincristine (0.02 mg/kg single intravenous injection), prednisolone (50 mg/m2/day) and mycophenolate (10 mg/kg twice daily) allowed normalisation of haematology parameters. Scheduled reassessment 10 days after discharge revealed lethargy, ataxia, wide‐based stance and marked generalised muscle wastage. Platelet count remained normal, but biochemistry was supportive of muscle damage. Neospora caninum antibodies were elevated (indirect fluorescence antibodies > 1600). Rapid tapering of prednisolone alongside clindamycin (20 mg/kg twice daily) allowed a complete recovery. Mycophenolate was slowly tapered and discontinued after 12 weeks, as was antibiotic therapy. This case describes the successful management of a dog with presumed neuromuscular neosporosis, suspected secondary to reactivation of the parasite from immunosuppression, and absence of long‐term complications.
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spelling doaj-art-2e9d654cee5a41b99748cbe085f705772025-08-20T03:55:53ZengWileyVeterinary Medicine and Science2053-10952025-07-01114n/an/a10.1002/vms3.70425Successful Management of Presumed Reactivation of Neospora caninum Following Immunosuppression for Immune Thrombocytopenia in an Adult DobermanPerrine Henry0Paul Rees1Tyler Morrison2Glynn Woods3Internal Medicine Department The University of Edinburgh Hospital for Small Animals (HfSA), Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies (R(D)SVS) Midlothian UKInternal Medicine Department The University of Edinburgh Hospital for Small Animals (HfSA), Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies (R(D)SVS) Midlothian UKInternal Medicine Department The University of Edinburgh Hospital for Small Animals (HfSA), Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies (R(D)SVS) Midlothian UKInternal Medicine Department The University of Edinburgh Hospital for Small Animals (HfSA), Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies (R(D)SVS) Midlothian UKABSTRACT A 5‐year old, vaccinated, untravelled and neutered female Doberman with occasional exposure to raw food presented for investigation of severe thrombocytopenia and anaemia. Extensive investigations led to a diagnosis of non‐associative immune thrombocytopenia, with secondary bleeds resulting in anaemia. Management with repeated packed red blood cell transfusions, vincristine (0.02 mg/kg single intravenous injection), prednisolone (50 mg/m2/day) and mycophenolate (10 mg/kg twice daily) allowed normalisation of haematology parameters. Scheduled reassessment 10 days after discharge revealed lethargy, ataxia, wide‐based stance and marked generalised muscle wastage. Platelet count remained normal, but biochemistry was supportive of muscle damage. Neospora caninum antibodies were elevated (indirect fluorescence antibodies > 1600). Rapid tapering of prednisolone alongside clindamycin (20 mg/kg twice daily) allowed a complete recovery. Mycophenolate was slowly tapered and discontinued after 12 weeks, as was antibiotic therapy. This case describes the successful management of a dog with presumed neuromuscular neosporosis, suspected secondary to reactivation of the parasite from immunosuppression, and absence of long‐term complications.https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.70425dogsparasitesNeospora caninum
spellingShingle Perrine Henry
Paul Rees
Tyler Morrison
Glynn Woods
Successful Management of Presumed Reactivation of Neospora caninum Following Immunosuppression for Immune Thrombocytopenia in an Adult Doberman
Veterinary Medicine and Science
dogs
parasites
Neospora caninum
title Successful Management of Presumed Reactivation of Neospora caninum Following Immunosuppression for Immune Thrombocytopenia in an Adult Doberman
title_full Successful Management of Presumed Reactivation of Neospora caninum Following Immunosuppression for Immune Thrombocytopenia in an Adult Doberman
title_fullStr Successful Management of Presumed Reactivation of Neospora caninum Following Immunosuppression for Immune Thrombocytopenia in an Adult Doberman
title_full_unstemmed Successful Management of Presumed Reactivation of Neospora caninum Following Immunosuppression for Immune Thrombocytopenia in an Adult Doberman
title_short Successful Management of Presumed Reactivation of Neospora caninum Following Immunosuppression for Immune Thrombocytopenia in an Adult Doberman
title_sort successful management of presumed reactivation of neospora caninum following immunosuppression for immune thrombocytopenia in an adult doberman
topic dogs
parasites
Neospora caninum
url https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.70425
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