Association between polyarthritis and thrombocytopenia and increased prevalence of vectorborne pathogens in Californian dogs

In summary, a minimum estimate of 20 per cent of dogs with thrombocytopenia or polyarthritis in a population from California had evidence of exposure to tickborne diseases. The data presented in this study should assist clinicians considering vectorborne diseases as a differential diagnosis of canine health problems, and, in general, should help to broaden knowledge of the scope of sequelae of infection with B burgdorferi, A phagocytophilum, R rickettsii and B vinsonii berkhoffii. Because these diseases may produce severe clinical manifestations, ongoing evaluations are warranted, particularly in dogs in known enzootic regions.