PCR Based Diagnosis and Clinical Management of Ehrlichiosis in a Dog

The report depicts crucial diagnosis and successful clinical management of Ehrlichia canis infection in a dog. A fourteen months old Labrador retriever dog was presented with history of recurrent pyrexia, anorexia, vomiting and lethargy. Clinical examination revealed anaemia, pyrexia, tachycardia, tachypnea, hepatomegaly, lymphadenopathy and dehydration. Significant monocytopenia, microcytic hypochromic anaemia, immune mediated thrombocytopenia, elevated ALP and ALT activities, hyperglobulinemia, and hypoalbuminemia were evident in hemato-biochemical evaluation. Eventhough, blood smear examination was negative for any hemoparasites, PCR evaluation of the blood sample revealed E. canis infection. The animal was treated successfully using Doxycycline (5mg/kg BID per orally for 21 days) and supportive therapy using antacid, antihistamine, anti inflammatory steroid, antioxidant, hepato-protectant, hematinic and B-complex vitamins. The case points towards the need for high sensitivity molecular techniques like PCR in effective screening of canine ehrlichiosis and other tick-borne hemoparasitic diseases.