Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis in Dogs

Erlihioze i anaplazmoze u pasa važne su krpeljno prenosive bolesti uzrokovane različitim vrstama bakterija iz roda Ehrlichia i Anaplasma. Erlihije i anaplazme inficiraju različite krvne stanice, ovisno o njihovom tropizmu, a imena bolesti koje uzrokuju temelje na vrsti inficiranih stanica i vrsti domaćina. Tako Anaplasma phagocytophilum uzrokuje granulocitnu anaplazmozu (ljudi, pasa, konja, goveda, ovaca i koza), A. platys pseću cikličku trombocitopeniju, a Ehrlichia canis pseću monocitnu erlihiozu. Ove bolesti imaju široku geografsku rasprostranjenost, a novija europska istraživanja ukazuju na njihovu sve veću pojavnost. Glavni rezervoari ovih bolesti u prirodi su razne divlje, ali i domaće životinjske vrste, no broj oboljelih životinja i ljudi uglavnom ovisi o prisustvu i gustoći vektora (krpelja) koji bolest prenose. Osim ova tri najznačajnija patogena, u pasa su dokazane i infekcije vrstama E. ewingii (granulocitna erlihioza) i E. chaffeensis (monocitna erlihioza). Ove infekcije se za sada uglavnom javljaju na prostorima Sjedinjenih Američkih Država, prijavljeni su i slučajevi u južnoj Americi, Africi i Aziji, no za sada nema podatka o njihovoj prisutnosti u Europi. Kliničko očitovanje bolesti uzrokovane erlihijama i anaplazmama vrlo je raznoliko. Moguće su subkliničke infekcije ili blagi slučajevi pa sve do teških infekcija s posljedičnim smrtnim ishodom. Obzirom na varijabilnost kliničke slike, nedostatak karakterističnih simptoma te činjenicu da u endemskim područjima u pasa često možemo naći rezidualan titar, dijagnostika ovih bolesti nije jednostavna već se često moramo služiti kombinacijom više dijagnostičkih metoda. Specifična antibiotska terapija uglavnom se svodi na uporabu doksiciklina, no duljina trajanja liječenja ovisi o vrsti uzročnika. Obzirom na nedostatak učinkovitog cjepiva mjere profilakse se temelje na uporabi različitih mjera zaštite od vektora koji bolest prenose.Canine ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis are important tick-borne diseases caused by different species of bacteria from the genus Ehrlichia and Anaplasma. Different bacterial species target specific cell types. Names of diseases they are causing are formed depending on the type of infectedcells and host species. Thus Anaplasma phagocytophilum causes granulocytic anaplasmosis (humans, dogs, horses, cattle, sheep and goats), A. platys canine cyclic thrombocytopenia and Ehrlichia canis canine monocytic ehrlichiosis. These diseases have wide geographical coverage, and recent European surveys point to their ever-increasing occurrence. The main reservoirs of these diseases in nature are different wild and domestic animal species, but the number of diseased animals and humans mostly depends on the presence and density of the vectors (e.g. ticks). In addition to these three most significant pathogens, infections with E. ewingii (granulocytic ehrlichiosis) and E. chaffeensis (monocytic ehrlichiosis) were also confirmed in dogs. These infections are mostly occurring in the United States, and cases have been reported in South America, Africa and Asia, but for now there is no evidence of their presence in Europe. Clinical manifestations of diseases caused by Ehrlichia and Anaplasma are very diverse. Subclinical infections or mild cases are common, but more serious clinical forms, evan with lethal outcome can be noted. Given the clinical picture variability, the lack of characteristic symptoms and the fact that we often find a residual titer in endemic areas of dogs, the diagnosis of these diseases is not simple but we often have to use a combination of multiple diagnostic methods. Specific antibiotic therapy is mainly reduced to the use of doxycycline, but the duration of treatment depends on the type of the agent. Given the lack of effective vaccine, prophylaxis measures are based on the use of various vector protection measures that convey the diseas