Haemolytic anaemia associated with Theileria sp. in an orphaned platypus. Issue 11 (13th August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kessell, AE; Boulton, JG; Dutton, GJ; Woodgate, R; Shamsi, S; Peters, A; Connolly, JH
• Is Part Of: Australian veterinary journal. Volume 92:Issue 11(2014)
• Page Start: 443
• Page End: 449
• Publication Date: 2014-08-13
• Subjects: Veterinary medicine -- Australia -- Periodicals; Veterinary medicine -- Periodicals; Veterinary Medicine -- Periodicals; 636.089
• DOI: 10.1111/avj.12225
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0005-0423

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="avj12225-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Case report</title> <p>The clinical and laboratory findings in an orphaned juvenile female platypus (<italic>Ornithorhynchus anatinus</italic>) that presented with a severe anaemia and tick infestation are reported. The animal developed a terminal septicaemia and died. Antemortem clinical pathology, postmortem histopathology and 18S rDNA sequencing supported a diagnosis of extravascular haemolytic anaemia secondary to <italic>Theileria ornithorhynchi</italic> infection.</p> </sec> <sec id="avj12225-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Although <italic>T. ornithorhynchi</italic> infection is common in the platypus, this is the first case in which it has been shown to cause a haemolytic anaemia in this species and molecular characterisation of the organism has been described. A review of the previous literature concerning <italic>T. ornithorhynchi</italic> and possible treatment options for future cases are discussed.</p> </sec> </abstract>