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| '''Ehrlichiosis''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|ɛər|l|ᵻ|k|i|ˈ|oʊ|s|ᵻ|s}}; also known as '''canine rickettsiosis''', '''canine hemorrhagic fever''', '''canine typhus''', '''tracker dog disease''', and '''tropical canine pancytopenia''' is a ] of dogs usually caused by the organism '']''. ''Ehrlichia canis'' is the pathogen of animals. Humans can become infected by ''E. canis'' and other species after tick exposure. ] |
'''Ehrlichiosis''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|ɛər|l|ᵻ|k|i|ˈ|oʊ|s|ᵻ|s}}; also known as '''canine rickettsiosis''', '''canine hemorrhagic fever''', '''canine typhus''', '''tracker dog disease''', and '''tropical canine pancytopenia''' is a ] of dogs usually caused by the organism '']''. ''Ehrlichia canis'' is the pathogen of animals. Humans can become infected by ''E. canis'' and other species after tick exposure. ] dogs are thought to be susceptible to a particularly severe form of the disease; other breeds generally have milder clinical signs. Cats can also be infected. | ||
| ==''Ehrlichia''== | ==''Ehrlichia''== | ||
| ''Ehrlichia'' is a ]l |
''Ehrlichia'' is a ]l bacterial genus belonging to the family ]. Of the several species of ''Ehrlichia'', the one that most commonly affects dogs and causes the most severe clinical signs is ''E. canis''. This species infects ]s in the peripheral blood. The brown dog tick, '']'', that passes the organism to the dog is prevalent throughout most of the ], but most cases tend to occur in the Southwest and Gulf Coast regions where a high concentration of the tick occurs. ''Ehrlichia'' spp. are found in many parts of the world and were first recognized in ] in 1935. During the ], ehrlichiosis became well known as a dog disease due to the infection and death of many military working dogs.<ref name=Ettinger>{{cite book|author1=Ettinger, Stephen J. |author2=Feldman, Edward C. |title=Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine(4th ed.)|publisher=W.B. Saunders Company|year=1995|isbn=0-7216-6795-3}}</ref> Two types of human ehrlichiosis have been identified in the United States: human monocytic ehrlichiosis and human granulocytic ehrlichiosis. | ||
| ==Disease overview== | ==Disease overview== | ||
| Dogs get ehrlichiosis from the |
Dogs get ehrlichiosis from the brown dog tick, which passes an organism into the bloodstream when it bites. Dogs also can become infected through a ] from an infected dog.<ref name="Ettinger"/> The three stages of ehrlichiosis each vary in severity. The acute stage, occurring several weeks after infection and lasting for up to a month, can lead to fever and lowered peripheral blood cell counts due to ] suppression. The second stage, called the subclinical phase, has no outward signs and can last for the remainder of the dog's life, during which the dog remains infected with the organism. Some dogs are able to successfully eliminate the disease during this time. In some dogs, the third and most serious stage of infection, the chronic phase, will commence. Very low blood cell counts (]), ], bacterial infection, lameness, ] and ], and ], can result. Chronic ehrlichiosis can be fatal. | ||
| ==Signs and symptoms== | ==Signs and symptoms== | ||
| The acute stage of the disease, occurring most often in the spring and summer, begins |
The acute stage of the disease, occurring most often in the spring and summer, begins 1-30weeks after infection and lasts for 2-4 weeks. ]s include a ], ], bleeding disorders, ], ], discharge from the nose and eyes, and ] of the legs and scrotum. No outward signs of the subclinical phase are seen. Clinical signs of the chronic phase include weight loss, pale gums due to anemia, bleeding due to ], vasculitis, ], ], coughing, ], ], lameness, ophthalmic diseases such as retinal hemorrhage and anterior ], and neurological disease. Severely affected dogs can die from this disease. | ||
| Although people can get ehrlichiosis, dogs do not transmit the bacteria to humans; rather, ticks pass on the '' |
Although people can get ehrlichiosis, dogs do not transmit the bacteria to humans; rather, ticks pass on the ''Ehrlichia'' organisms. Clinical signs of human ehrlichiosis include fever, headache, eye pain, and gastrointestinal upset. It is quite similar to ], but ] is not seen in patients. | ||
| ==Diagnosis== | ==Diagnosis== | ||
| ] is achieved most commonly by ] of the blood for the presence of ] against the |
] is achieved most commonly by ] of the blood for the presence of ] against the ''Ehrlichia ''organism. Many veterinarians routinely test for the disease, especially in enzootic areas. During the acute phase of infection, the test can be falsely negative because the body may not have had time to make antibodies to the infection. As such, the test should be repeated. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test can be performed during this stage to detect genetic material of the bacteria. The PCR test is more likely to yield a negative result during the subclinical and chronic disease phases.<ref>{{cite web|title=Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis: An In-depth Review|url=http://www.idexx.com|publisher=Idexx Laboratories|accessdate=2012-09-26}}</ref> In addition, ]s may show abnormalities in the numbers of ]s, ]s, and most commonly ]s, if the disease is present. Uncommonly, a diagnosis can be made by looking under a ] at a ] for the presence of the ''Ehrlichia'' ]e, which sometimes can be seen as intracytoplasmic ] within a ]. | ||
| ==Prognosis== | ==Prognosis== | ||
| The ] is good for dogs with acute ehrlichiosis. For dogs that have reached the chronic stage of the disease, the prognosis is guarded. When bone marrow suppression occurs and |
The ] is good for dogs with acute ehrlichiosis. For dogs that have reached the chronic stage of the disease, the prognosis is guarded. When bone marrow suppression occurs and levels of blood cells are low, the animal may not respond to treatment. | ||
| ==Treatment== | ==Treatment== | ||
| Supportive care must be provided to animals that have clinical signs. Subcutaneous or intravenous fluids are given to dehydrated animals, and severely anemic dogs may require a ]. Treatment for ehrlichiosis involves the use of antibiotics such as ] or ] for a period of at least |
Supportive care must be provided to animals that have clinical signs. Subcutaneous or intravenous fluids are given to dehydrated animals, and severely anemic dogs may require a ]. Treatment for ehrlichiosis involves the use of antibiotics such as ] or ] for a period of at least 6-8 weeks; response to the drugs may take a month. Treatment with ] antibiotics such as clarithromycin and azithromycin is being studied. In addition, steroids may be indicated in severe cases in which the level of platelets is so low that the condition is life-threatening. | ||
| ==Prevention== | ==Prevention== | ||
Revision as of 21:22, 30 November 2018
Ehrlichiosis (/ˌɛərlɪkiˈoʊsɪs/; also known as canine rickettsiosis, canine hemorrhagic fever, canine typhus, tracker dog disease, and tropical canine pancytopenia is a tick-borne disease of dogs usually caused by the organism Ehrlichia canis. Ehrlichia canis is the pathogen of animals. Humans can become infected by E. canis and other species after tick exposure. German Shepherd dogs are thought to be susceptible to a particularly severe form of the disease; other breeds generally have milder clinical signs. Cats can also be infected.
Ehrlichia
Ehrlichia is a rickettsial bacterial genus belonging to the family Ehrlichiaceae. Of the several species of Ehrlichia, the one that most commonly affects dogs and causes the most severe clinical signs is E. canis. This species infects monocytes in the peripheral blood. The brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineous, that passes the organism to the dog is prevalent throughout most of the United States, but most cases tend to occur in the Southwest and Gulf Coast regions where a high concentration of the tick occurs. Ehrlichia spp. are found in many parts of the world and were first recognized in Algeria in 1935. During the Vietnam War, ehrlichiosis became well known as a dog disease due to the infection and death of many military working dogs. Two types of human ehrlichiosis have been identified in the United States: human monocytic ehrlichiosis and human granulocytic ehrlichiosis.
Disease overview
Dogs get ehrlichiosis from the brown dog tick, which passes an organism into the bloodstream when it bites. Dogs also can become infected through a blood transfusion from an infected dog. The three stages of ehrlichiosis each vary in severity. The acute stage, occurring several weeks after infection and lasting for up to a month, can lead to fever and lowered peripheral blood cell counts due to bone marrow suppression. The second stage, called the subclinical phase, has no outward signs and can last for the remainder of the dog's life, during which the dog remains infected with the organism. Some dogs are able to successfully eliminate the disease during this time. In some dogs, the third and most serious stage of infection, the chronic phase, will commence. Very low blood cell counts (pancytopenia), bleeding, bacterial infection, lameness, neurological and ophthalmic disorders, and kidney disease, can result. Chronic ehrlichiosis can be fatal.
Signs and symptoms
The acute stage of the disease, occurring most often in the spring and summer, begins 1-30weeks after infection and lasts for 2-4 weeks. Clinical signs include a fever, petechiae, bleeding disorders, vasculitis, lymphadenopathy, discharge from the nose and eyes, and edema of the legs and scrotum. No outward signs of the subclinical phase are seen. Clinical signs of the chronic phase include weight loss, pale gums due to anemia, bleeding due to thrombocytopenia, vasculitis, lymphadenopathy, dyspnea, coughing, polyuria, polydipsia, lameness, ophthalmic diseases such as retinal hemorrhage and anterior uveitis, and neurological disease. Severely affected dogs can die from this disease.
Although people can get ehrlichiosis, dogs do not transmit the bacteria to humans; rather, ticks pass on the Ehrlichia organisms. Clinical signs of human ehrlichiosis include fever, headache, eye pain, and gastrointestinal upset. It is quite similar to Rocky Mountain spotted fever, but rash is not seen in patients.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is achieved most commonly by serologic testing of the blood for the presence of antibodies against the Ehrlichia organism. Many veterinarians routinely test for the disease, especially in enzootic areas. During the acute phase of infection, the test can be falsely negative because the body may not have had time to make antibodies to the infection. As such, the test should be repeated. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test can be performed during this stage to detect genetic material of the bacteria. The PCR test is more likely to yield a negative result during the subclinical and chronic disease phases. In addition, blood tests may show abnormalities in the numbers of red blood cells, white blood cells, and most commonly platelets, if the disease is present. Uncommonly, a diagnosis can be made by looking under a microscope at a blood smear for the presence of the Ehrlichia morulae, which sometimes can be seen as intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies within a white blood cell.
Prognosis
The prognosis is good for dogs with acute ehrlichiosis. For dogs that have reached the chronic stage of the disease, the prognosis is guarded. When bone marrow suppression occurs and levels of blood cells are low, the animal may not respond to treatment.
Treatment
Supportive care must be provided to animals that have clinical signs. Subcutaneous or intravenous fluids are given to dehydrated animals, and severely anemic dogs may require a blood transfusion. Treatment for ehrlichiosis involves the use of antibiotics such as tetracycline or doxycycline for a period of at least 6-8 weeks; response to the drugs may take a month. Treatment with macrolide antibiotics such as clarithromycin and azithromycin is being studied. In addition, steroids may be indicated in severe cases in which the level of platelets is so low that the condition is life-threatening.
Prevention
Tick control is the most effective method of prevention, but tetracycline at a lower dose can be given daily for 200 days during the tick season in endemic regions.
References
- ^ Ettinger, Stephen J.; Feldman, Edward C. (1995). Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine(4th ed.). W.B. Saunders Company. ISBN 0-7216-6795-3.
- "Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis: An In-depth Review". Idexx Laboratories. Retrieved 2012-09-26.