Clinical features and serology of 14 dogs affected by granulocytic ehrlichiosis in Sweden

Abstract

The clinical features and the titres to Ehrlichia equi, E canis, E risticii, Rickettsia rickettsii and Borrelia afzelii in 14 Swedish dogs, in which ehrlichiosis was diagnosed on the basis of the presence of inclusions in granulocytes, are reported. Most of the dogs were moderately ill but made a rapid recovery after treatment with doxycycline. The dogs with inclusions were thrombocytopenic. Analysis of the antibody titres indicates that serology to E equi will remain the most appropriate serological test for granulocytic ehrlichiosis in Swedish dogs, until a specific test is developed for detecting the recently identified subspecies of Ehrlichia.

Genetic Variants of Anaplasma phagocytophilum Infecting Dogs in Western Washington State

“…The dog that tested negative for A. phagocytophilum by serology had appeared sick for 2 days, and an adequate acute-phase titer may not have been reached by that point. In one study (12), antibody titers to A. phagocytophilum reverted to nondetectable levels by 7 to 8 months after acute experimental canine infections. For our cases, however, the antibody titers remained elevated 7 and 10 months after initial infections.…”

“…All six dogs tested for E. canis were seronegative. Although some degree of cross-reactivity does exist between A. phagocytophilum and E. canis, serological reactivity is uncommon between A. phagocytophilum and E. ewingii or Ehrlichia chaffeenssis (12,18). For dogs, granulocytic inclusions caused by A. phagocytophilum must be differentiated from granulocytic inclusions caused by E. ewingii.…”

Retrospective Study of Tick-Borne Pathogens and Observation of <i>Ehrlichia ewingii / Anaplasma phagocytophilum</i> and Hemotropic <i>Mycoplasma</i> spp. in Dogs’ Blood Films

“…No breed predispositions have been reported in E. ewingii, A. phagocytophilum and M. haemocanis infection [15,16,30]. There were some reports of coinfection of A. phagocytophilum with Borrelia burgdorferi in different hosts [80].…”

“…Some of these neutrophils were in abnormal shapes; these neutrophils can be named "old neutrophils". In canine granulocytic anaplasmosis, mild to moderated nonregenerative anemia and thrombocytopenia are observed [15,16,23]. In Diff Quick, both neutrophilia and neutropenia can be recorded, lymphopenia, monocytosis, eosinopenia are also observed.…”

Important frequency of Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in a population of domiciled dogs in an urbanized area in south-eastern Brazil

“…It is possible that cross-reaction between species of Anaplasmataceae, rather than exposure to A. phagocytophilum, was responsible for the positive serology (Carrade et al 2009). Moreover, although canine granulocytic anaplasmosis is a self-limiting infection, the antibodies can be detected by IFA for various months (Egenvall et al 1997). Therefore, it is possible that a seropositive IFAT may not necessarily reflect an actual infection by A. phagocytophilum.…”