Interpretation of doxycycline+chloroquine dual therapy for A. phagocytophilum infection in dogs

Objectives. A. phagocytophilum, an obligate intracellular pathogen, is a well-known agent causing granulocytic infections in both animals and humans. The purpose of the present study was to describe clinical course and consequences of Canine Granulocyctic Anaplasmosis among dogs in Aydin province, Turkey with special reference to hematological alterations and possible interpretations of doxycycline+chloroquine dual therapy. Materials and methods. A controlled clinical trial was carried out on 14 dogs referred and diagnosed as Canine Granulocyctic Anaplasmosis within Snap 4dx test. Relevant haematological data were recorded before (day 0) and after treatment (day 30) in both groups. Group I (n=7) were adminestered doxycycline (10 mg/kg q 12 h via oral route for 14 days) and chloroquine (2.5 mg/kg q 12 h for 14 days) and group II (n=7) received only doxycycline (10 mg/kg q 12 h for 14 days via oral route) therapy. Results. Doxycycline treatment hasten resolution of clinical signs in all dogs in about 2 to 7 days. There was no statistically significant differences among hematological variances detected (p>0.05). Conclusions. It may suggest that in conjunction with doxycycline chloroquine may have helped to speed up relevant clinical signs of CGA.