Fatal haemobartonellosis in a non–splenectomized dog–a case report

A 4–year–old non–splenectomized Irish Setter which had survived one episode of pyrexia and icterus died during a haemolytic crisis associated with a more severe relapse. Laboratory investigations revealed large numbers of organisms identified as Haemobartonella species in the blood, together with a marked neutrophilia and shift to the left. A post–mortem examination revealed only widespread icterus. No previous record of Haemobartonellosis in a dog in Great Britain has been found.