Incidence of Idiopathic Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anaemia of Dogs in Chennai*

Abstract

Idiopathic immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) is the most common autoimmune disease in dogs. The aim of the study was to study the incidence and clinicopathological changes of idiopathic IMHA, which is not having any secondary underlying triggering causes. The suspected anaemic dogs brought with clinical signs such as pale or icteric mucous membranes were screened for IMHA by saline agglutination and spherocyte count and confirmed by flow cytometry. The positive cases were then subjected to PCR for ruling out secondary underlying causes like Babesia spp and Ehrlichia canis (secondary IMHA). Of the 75 suspected anemic dogs, 32 cases were confirmed by flow cytometry. Among thirty two cases, thirteen were primary (Idiopathic) IMHA (17.3 %) and remaining nineteen cases were diagnosed as secondary IMHA. The most common clinicopathological findings were anaemia with PCV less than 15 per cent with regenerative changes, leucocytosis, thrombocytopenia, elevated PT and APTT, elevated BUN, creatinine, ALT, ALP, hypoalbuminemia and hyperbilirubinaemia.