Clinical, haematobiochemical alterations, diagnosis and management of canine ehrlichiosis

Abstract

In the present study, clinical findings, haematological and biochemical alterations, diagnosis and management of positive cases of canine ehrlichiosis was undertaken. A total of 40 dogs affected with canine ehrlichiosis were diagnosed based on nPCR with characteristic clinical features of pyrexia, presence or history of ticks, anorexia, depression and lethargy, congested and pale conjuctival mucous membranes, vomiting, diarrhoea, melena, respiratory distress, weight loss, lymphadenopathy, petechial haemorrhages, epistaxis, ocular discharge, lameness, hind limb edema, blindness, haematuria and heart involvement. Buffy coat smear showed morula in 14 dogs out of 40 confirmed cases. Haematological alteration indicated microcytic hypochromic anemia, thrombocytopenia, hypoalbuminemia and hyperglobulinemia. Animals were treated with Doxycycline @10mg/kg/daily orally for 21 days and showed rapid improvement and recovery.