Serological evidence of antibodies to Neospora caninum in stray and owned Grenadian dogs.

Neospora caninum causes abortion in cattle and neuromuscular disease in dogs, world wide. Cattle become infected by ingesting oocysts voided by dogs. The aim of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of Neospora caninum in two populations of dogs (stray and owned) in Grenada, West Indies. Sera were collected from 625 dogs from all parishes in Grenada. Three hundred and sixty eight dogs were stray, while 257 dogs were owned. Sera were tested for the presence of antibodies against N. caninum using an indirect enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) IDvet, France. Antibodies to N. caninum were found in 6 (1.6%) (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.32% to 2.88%) of the stray dogs and in 3 (1.2%, 95% CI: 0.13% to 2.53%) of the owned dogs. Seroprevalence did not differ significantly between the two populations (p=0.74) and between the males and females (p=1). These results suggest that the prevalence of N. caninum infection in dogs in Grenada is low.

Retrospective study of canine heartworm disease with caval syndrome in Grenada, West Indies.

Canine heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis is an important disease of dogs. The aim of this retrospective study was to estimate the prevalence of canine heartworm disease and evaluate cases of caval syndrome in dogs submitted for necropsy in Grenada. Out of 1617 dogs necropsied over a period of 13 years (2001-2013), 249 were found to be infected with D. immitis; giving an overall prevalence of 15.4% (95% confidence interval, 13.6% to 17.1%). There was no significant difference between male and female dogs with respect to canine heartworm infection (p = 0.3). During this period, the annual prevalence of canine heartworm disease was 22% in 2001 before slightly declining to an average of 18% in 2002-2003 and peaking at 26.8% in 2004-2005. From 2006 onwards, annual prevalence rates have steadily been decreasing; reaching the lowest (9%) in 2013. Among the 249 positive cases, 33 (13.2%) of the dogs had caval syndrome. Caval syndrome cases presented with concurrent clinical signs and were associated with cardio-pulmonary and hepatic gross lesions at necropsy. Aberrant migration of D. immitis was also noted in 2 dogs with caval syndrome. This is the first report which presents the findings of canine heartworm disease with caval syndrome in Grenada.

Intraoperative bleeding in dogs from Grenada seroreactive to Anaplasma platys and Ehrlichia canis.

BACKGROUND: Frequent exposure of Grenadian dogs to Rhipicephalus sanguineus results in Anaplasma platys, and Ehrlichia canis seroreactivity. During elective surgeries, substantial intraoperative hemorrhage occurs in some seroreactive dogs. OBJECTIVES: To assess hemostatic parameters and bleeding tendencies as well as prevalence of PCR positivity in apparently healthy A. platys and E. canis seroreactive and seronegative free-roaming dogs from Grenada. ANIMALS: Forty-seven elective surgery dogs allocated to 4 groups: Seronegative control (n = 12), A. platys (n = 10), E. canis (n = 14) and A. platys, and E. canis (n = 11) seroreactive. METHODS: Preoperatively, hemostasis was assessed by platelet count, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and buccal mucosal bleeding time. Intra- and postoperative bleeding scores were subjectively assigned. Blood, spleen, bone marrow, and lymph node aspirates were tested by PCR. RESULTS: Bleeding scores in dogs coseroreactive for A. platys and E. canis were higher (P = .015) than those of seronegative dogs. A. platys DNA was amplified from 7/21 (33%) A. platys seroreactive dogs and from 1 E. canis seroreactive dog; E. canis DNA was amplified from 21/25 (84%) E. canis seroreactive dogs. E. canis DNA was amplified most often from blood, whereas A. platys DNA was amplified most often from bone marrow. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Apparently healthy, free-roaming dogs coseropositive for A. platys and E. canis may have increased intraoperative bleeding tendencies despite normal hemostatic parameters. Future investigations should explore the potential for vascular injury as a cause for bleeding in these dogs. Improved tick control is needed for dogs in Grenada.