Common and atypical presentations of Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in equids with emphasis on neurologic and muscle disease

Abstract

Abstract Background Comprehensive descriptions of equids with granulocytic anaplasmosis (EGA) with neurologic or muscle disease and other atypical presentations are scarce in the literature. Objective Describe the clinical signs, laboratory findings, treatment, and outcome of equids with EGA with emphasis on neurologic and muscle disease. Animals Thirty‐eight horses, 1 donkey. Methods Retrospective study. Equids with EGA were included. The electronic data base was searched from January 2000 to December 2022 using the words anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, granulocytic, and rickettsia. Signalment and clinical data were reviewed. Data were evaluated for normality using Shapiro‐Wilk test. Parametric and nonparametric statistics were used for normally and non‐normally distributed data. Results Common (41%) and other (59%) presentations were seen in horses ≥ 4 years of age (median, 14 years) with an overrepresentation of males (77%). Neurologic disease was common (41%), mainly presenting as diffuse symmetrical proprioceptive ataxia. Brain disease was less common manifesting as obtundation and cranial nerve deficits. Muscle disease was less common, with QH breeds with the variant causing myosin heavy chain myopathy (MYHM) having severe disease. Cavitary effusion, cardiomyopathy and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) were uncommon. Clinical laboratory results varied depending on disease stage. Muscle enzyme activities were significantly higher in horses with muscle disease. Outcome was favorable with prompt tetracycline treatment. Death and long‐term sequelae were not reported. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Common and atypical presentations of EGA have a favorable outcome with prompt tetracycline treatment. Quarter horse breeds with muscle disease should be genotyped for MYHM.

Keywords

• anaplasmosis
• ehrlichiosis
• equine
• granulocytic
• morulae