THE SPREAD OF CANINE MONOCYTIC EHRLICHIOSIS IN TURKEY TO CENTRAL ANATOLIA

YILDIZ, Kader/0000-0001-5802-6156WOS: 000276579100003Ehrlichia canis, a rickettsial agent, causes canine monocytotropic ehrlichiosis (CME) in dogs characterized by fever, anorexia, weakness, and lymphadenopathy. In most cases, after the acute stage, the disease regresses to an asymptomatic form which may progress into a more severe chronic and often fatal form. Once transmitted by Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks, it reaches the spleen, liver, lymph nodes via blood and lymph vessels. In the present study, dogs of different breeds and ages submitted to our clinics for various health problems, many of them with tick infestations, were examined serologically for ehrlichiosis. Blood samples were collected from a total of 122 dogs (66 females and 56 males) and analyzed using a commercial immunofluorescence antibody test kit. Total blood count was conducted using an automated cell counter. Seropositivity was detected in 18 dogs (14.75%), among which 17 had no clinical findings while one had a non-specific cough. The seropositive dogs had no specific clinical or hematological signs. It was concluded that these dogs were probably in the subclinical phase of the disease. Seropositivity in male and female dogs was 12.12% and 17.85%, respectively. The result of this study is demonstrates the expansion of canine ehrlichiosis into the dry regions of Anatolia. Therefore, we recommend that dogs especially those with tick infestations should be examined serologically for ehrlichiosis as subclinically infected dogs usually exhibit no clinical signs or hematological changes and may for unknown reasons revert to the chronic severe and usually fatal form of CME