EHRLICHIOSIS

INTRODUCTION Ehrlichiosis (pronounced also known as canine rickettsiosis, canine hemorrhagic fever, canine typhus, tracker dog disease, and tropical canine pancytopenia) Ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne disease of dogs usually caused by the organism Ehrlichia canis. Ehrlichia canis is pathogenic to animals.

Cats can also be infected. CONT….. Humans can become infected by E. canis and other species after tick exposure. German Shepherd dogs are thought to be particularly affected by the disease, other breeds generally have milder clinical signs. Cats can also be infected.

EHRLICHIA Rickettsial bacteria belonging to the family Ehrlichiaceae. Although there are several species of ehrilichia,E.canis causes most severe clinical signs. This E.canis infects monocytes in the peripheral blood. The brown dog tick, or Rhipicephalus sanguineous, that passes the organism to the dog.

PREVALENCE First recorded in algeria in 1935. During vietnam war the organism affected many military working dogs. Prevalent throughout USA, southwest and gulf coast regions. Erhlichia affecting human beings was first recorded in USA,they are Human monocytic ehrlichiosis and Human granulocytic ehrlichiosis.

CANINE MONOCYTIC EHRLICHIOSIS It is caused by Ehrlichia canis Acute to chronic disease of monocytes Transmitted by R.sanguineus Transtadial not by transovarian Ambylomma & dermocentor ticks also involved in transmission

CONT…… Acute stage: Thrombocytopenia, splenomegaly & lymphadenopathy are commonly seen Chronic stage in this stage wide spread haemorrhage & increased monocellular cell infiltration of organs are seen Hematologic changes include non regenerative anaemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia.

CONT…… Pancytopenia (abnormal depression of all the cellular elements of blood) may occur as result of hypoplasia of all bone marrow precursor cells , more commonly in the severe chronic phase.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS fever lethargy loss of appetite weight loss abnormal bleeding (e.g., nosebleeds, bleeding under skin -- looks like little spots or patches of bruising) enlarged lymph nodes

CONT…… enlarged spleen pain and stiffness (due to arthritis and muscle pain) coughing Seizures vomiting and diarrhea inflammation of the eye neurological symptoms (e.g., incoordination, depression, paralysis, etc.) Signs of other organ involvement can appear in the chronic form, especially kidney disease.

CONT…. hyper-reflective eyes discharge from the eyes and/or nose ocular signs Chronic case

HOW IS EHRLICHIOSIS DIAGNOSED? Diagnosis is based on typical clinical signs & special blood test. Two blood tests that detect the dog's antibodies to Ehrlichia are available - indirect immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) test, ELISA test. The antibodies can lost for one or more years after the infection

Buffy coat smear

Newer diagnostic test-PCR test CONT….. They do not make the dog immune to ehrilichiosis, the dog could get reinfected Newer diagnostic test-PCR test It is for the presence of the organism itself, not antibodies to it. DRAWBACK It does not distinguish between live and dead organisms. For this reason, it is generally recommended to perform the PCR along with one of the antibody tests

HOW IS EHRLICHIOSIS TREATED? Antibiotics Tetracycline- 22 mg/kg body weight for 14 days Doxycycline-5 mg/kg body weight for 14 days Minocycline- 20 mg/kg body weight for 14 days orally Dogs will need blood transfusions or intravenous fluids depending on the severity of the disease.

CONT…. German Shepherds and Doberman Pinschers tend to have chronic form of the disease. The drug, imidocarb dipropionate, is sometimes used in conjunction with the antibiotics. If immune-mediated arthritis or decrease in platelets occurs, corticosteroids (e.g., prednisolone) may be given.

HOW TO PREVENT EHRLICHIOSIS IN PET Check your dog daily for ticks and remove them as soon as possible Tick control is the main way to prevent ehrlichiosis Permethrins are excellent choices Amitraz can be used No vaccine for ehrlichiosis