Transmission
Ehrlichiosis develops in dogs after being bitten by an infected tick. Disease transmission can occur within three to six hours after the tick attaches, making prompt removal essential. Ehrlichia canisis the most common species involved in canine ehrlichiosis, though other species from the genus can also cause the disease.
Clinical signs
Ehrlichiosis caused by E canis progresses through three phases: acute, subclinical, and chronic, each with varying or sometimes no symptoms.
Acute Phase
This phase occurs 1 to 3 weeks after the dog is bitten by an infected tick. During this time, the Ehrlichia organism replicates and attaches to white blood cells. Symptoms may include fever, swollen lymph nodes, limping and stiffness, reluctance to walk, decreased appetite, fatigue, coughing, breathing difficulties, and abnormal bruising or bleeding.
Subclinical Phase
After 1 to 4 weeks, most dogs transition from the acute phase to the subclinical phase. In this stage, the organism is still present but does not cause noticeable symptoms. The bacteria hide in the spleen, where they can remain dormant for months or even years. Dogs in the subclinical phase may either eliminate the infection or progress to the chronic phase of ehrlichiosis.
Chronic Phase
Not all dogs move from the subclinical to the chronic phase, but when they do, the symptoms become more severe. Up to 60% of dogs with chronic E. canis infection will experience abnormal bleeding due to reduced platelet counts.
Diagnosis
Antibody Testing
Antibody testing for Ehrlichia canis relies on detecting the presence of antibodies to the organism through serology tests, such as ELISA or rapid tests. Diagnosing infected dogs in the very early stages can be challenging, as the immune system typically takes two to three weeks to develop detectable antibodies. Additionally, antibodies against Ehrlichia species may remain elevated for several months even after the disease has resolved.
Note
Bioguard’s Qmini PCR can detect Ehrlichia spp.DNA in 90 minutes at your clinics using blood as samples.
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