Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6 as inflammatory biomarkers in dogs naturally infected with Ehrlichia canis

Abstract

Background and Aim: Canine monocytotropic ehrlichiosis (CME), a tick-borne disease, leads to a systemic inflammatory response syndrome; it is thus important to assess the intensity of inflammation in order to treat it appropriately. The current study was designed to evaluate hematological, biochemical, and inflammatory parameters in dogs naturally infected with Ehrlichia canis compared with those in healthy dogs. We also assessed the relationship among several inflammation-related parameters and considered these parameters for use as inflammatory biomarkers of CME. Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight dogs were divided into two groups based on the results of nested polymerase chain reaction for detecting E. canis, comprising a healthy group (n=11) and an infected group (n=17). A blood sample was collected from each dog to evaluate hematological, biochemical, and inflammatory parameters, with the obtained results being statistically compared between the groups. Moreover, the correlations of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were investigated in the 28 dogs. Results: In the infected group, the mean levels of red blood cells, hemoglobin, and hematocrit were significantly lower than in the healthy group, while the mean lymphocyte and monocyte counts were higher. The mean levels of ESR and CRP were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the infected group, whereas no significant differences were found in IL-6 levels between the two groups. In the correlation analysis, ESR and CRP levels were highly correlated (p<0.01, r=0.531). Conclusion: Elevated ESR and CRP levels were found in dogs naturally infected with E. canis, which also presented mild to moderate inflammation in this study. Moreover, CRP was significantly correlated with ESR, so ESR and CRP may serve as inflammatory biomarkers for monitoring CME.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate in canine leishmaniosis diagnosis: A new resource

“…From October 2021 to January 2022, kennel and privately owned dogs of any sex, age, weight, and breed referred to the Medical Clinic Unit of the Department of Veterinary Medicine (Valenzano, Italy) were recruited in this study if L. infantum-seropositive by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Dogs were excluded if suspected or known to be: (i) affected by diseases or treated with drugs able to influence the immune response and the inflammatory markers (e.g., neoplastic, auto-immune and heart diseases, diabetes mellitus and insipidus, hypo-and hyperadrenocorticism or hyper-and hypothyroidism, anti-inflammatory, and/or immunosuppressive drugs); (ii) affected by diseases able to influence the ESR according to the available scientific literature (i.e., canine rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and babesiosis) (14)(15)(16)(17). Furthermore, dogs were tested for anti-Anaplasma phagocytophilum (MegaCor Diagnostik, Horbranz, Austria) and anti-E. canis (Biopronix Agrolabo, Scarmagno, Italia) antibodies by indirect immunofluorescent antibody test and excluded in case of positivity.…”

“…In human medicine, ESR is usually used as a general index of illness and for tracking the occurrence and extent of inflammation. Though ESR is scarcely investigated in veterinary medicine, it has recently been found to be useful in cases of canine rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis (14)(15)(16)(17). For example, the potential value of ESR in combination with CRP as inflammatory biomarkers has been suggested for monitoring canine monocytic ehrlichiosis in dogs naturally infected by Ehrlichia canis (17).…”

“…Though ESR is scarcely investigated in veterinary medicine, it has recently been found to be useful in cases of canine rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis (14)(15)(16)(17). For example, the potential value of ESR in combination with CRP as inflammatory biomarkers has been suggested for monitoring canine monocytic ehrlichiosis in dogs naturally infected by Ehrlichia canis (17). Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the ESR in L. infantum-seropositive dogs compared with healthy dogs and to assess the existence of a correlation between ESR and CanL clinical form as well as APPs.…”

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate in heartworm naturally infected dogs “with or without” Leishmania infantum seropositivity: an observational prospective study

“…More, dogs belonging to the Dirofilaria/Leishmania group were further subgrouped according to the CanL clinical form as affected by a "non-active" (i.e., absence of clinical signs and laboratory alterations compatible with CanL active form; Dirofilaria/Leishmania non-active group) or "active" (i.e., presence of clinical signs and/or laboratory alterations compatible with CanL; Dirofilaria/Leishmania active group) form of CanL (24,25). Dogs were excluded if suspected or known to be: (i) affected by diseases or treated with drugs able to influence the immune response and the inflammatory markers (e.g., neoplastic, auto-immune and heart diseases, diabetes mellitus and insipidus, hypo-and hyperadrenocorticism or hypothyroidism, anti-inflammatory, and/or immunosuppressive drugs); (ii) affected by diseases able to influence the ESR according to the current evidence (i.e., canine rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and babesiosis) (16)(17)(18)(19); (iii) affected by other vector-borne pathogens such as A. phagocytophilum and E. canis, or infected by other filarial nematodes namely Dirofilaria repens and Acanthocheilonema reconditum. Any aggressive, debilitated, or severely sick animals as well as pregnant females were excluded from the study.…”

“…In this scenario, the ESR measurement is a hematology test commonly performed in human medicine to measure the speed at which red blood cells (RBC) settle into a tube of anticoagulated blood in a specific unit of time, most commonly an hour, to highlight the occurrence and extent of inflammation (14,15). This determination has recently returned to the spotlight in veterinary medicine, being identified as a useful and timely inflammatory biomarker in cases of canine rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and feline chronic kidney disease (16)(17)(18)(19)(20).…”