Skip to main content
Home
  • merial
  • Select your language

  • Home
  • Maps
  • Download the maps
  • Ectoparasites
    • Introduction
    • ticks
    • fleas
    • lice
    • sarcoptic mites
    • ear mites
    • demodex mites
    • cheyletiella mites
    • trombicula
    • dermanyssus & ornithonyssus
    • sandflies
    • mosquitoes
  • diseases
    • Introduction
    • main vector-borne diseases
    • main direct ectoparasitic diseases
  • News
    • news
    • Press Review
    • Links
  • methodology
    • Introduction
    • Data sources
    • Activity
    • Density
    • Risk
    • References
homepage > diseases > main vector-borne diseases > ehrlichiosis
  • Main Vector-Borne Diseases
    • babesiosis
    • ehrlichiosis
    • leishmaniosis
    • dirofilariosis
    • anaplasmosis
    • hepatozoonosis
    • lyme borreliosis
    • tbe
    • cat scratch disease
  • Main Direct Ectoparasitic Diseases
    • flea allergy dermatitis
    • sarcoptic mange
    • demodicosis
    • octacariosis
    • cheyletiellosis
    • Trombiculosis

Main vector-borne diseases

  • Main Vector-Borne Diseases
    • babesiosis
    • ehrlichiosis
    • leishmaniosis
    • dirofilariosis
    • anaplasmosis
    • hepatozoonosis
    • lyme borreliosis
    • tbe
    • cat scratch disease
  • Main Direct Ectoparasitic Diseases
    • flea allergy dermatitis
    • sarcoptic mange
    • demodicosis
    • octacariosis
    • cheyletiellosis
    • Trombiculosis

ehrlichiosis

  • <span><b>Vector</b><br><i>Rhipicephalus sanguineus</i></span>
  • <span><b>Diagnosis</b><br>Morula of <i>Ehrlichia canis</i> in a monocyte<br>Photo: B. Davoust</span>
  • <span><b>Clinical signs</b><br>Ehrlichiosis petechia on buccal muccosa</span>
  • <span><b>Clinical signs</b><br>Chronic ehrlichiosis cachexia<br>Photo: B. Davoust</span>
  • <span><b>Clinical signs</b><br>Epistaxis<br>Photo: B. Davoust</span>

  • causative agent
  • vectors
  • epidemiology
  • clinical signs lesions
  • diagnosis
  • treatment
  • prevention
  • in cats
  • Ehrlichia canis gram-negative bacteria, belonging to the alpha sub-group of proteo-bacteria that multiply only in mononuclear cell cytoplasm. Its diameter ranges from 2 to 10 µm.

  • The dog-tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus, and Dermacentor variabilis tick in the United States.

    Learn more about the vectors: Ticks

  • In Europe, canine ehrlichiosis is enzootic in the Mediterranean basin (Spain, Portugal, Italy, southeast France, Greece etc..). The infection is mainly seasonal, during the tick season, from April to October. Nevertheless, it can be found year-round over the entire distribution area.

  • The acute form

    The most frequent clinical signs are listlessness, anorexia, weight loss, sudden appearance of extremely high temperature (plateauing at up to 41ºC), pale mucous, adenomegaly, enlarged spleen, vomiting, periodic ophthalmia and haemorrhaging.

    There may be petechiae in the mouth or genital mucous membranes

    The subclinical form

    Clinically non-apparent infection which only manifests itself as a variation of certain biological parameters such as thrombocytes and leukocytes.

    Weight loss, adenomegaly and the appearance of oedema of the limbs and scrotum.

    The chronic form

    Haematoma appear. Bruises are noticeable on the abdomen, with bilateral epistaxis, a very characteristic symptom of severe ehrlichiosis (canine tropical pancytopaenia).

    With regard to the eyes, hyphaema, periodic ophthalmia, conjunctivitis, opacification of the cornea and retinal haemorrhage can be observed. Runny eyes and nose are also frequent.

  • Laboratory

    Indirect immunofluorescent blood diagnosis is the benchmark method, given its high levels of sensitivity and specificity.

    Fast diagnosis testing based on ELISA or immunomigration seem to be reliable methods and are easy for a vet to use. Chain polymer reaction (CPR) helps detect the presence of Ehrlichia canis in blood or tissue (spleen, liver etc.).

    Differential

    Diagnosis with other Rhipicephalus-transmitted infections:

    - Babesiosis

    - Hepatozoonosis

  • - Doxycycline: 10 mg/kg/day, oral intake for a month. Symptoms regress often in less than 24 hours

    For dogs suffering from haemorrhages, blood transfusions are recommended (total fresh blood or enriched plasma)

  • Monitoring infestations by vector ticks thanks to acaricide products

    - Prescription of Doxycycline 3mg/Kg, administered orally each day

  • Ehrlichia canis transmitted for the vector Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Anaplasma phagocytophilum transmitted for Ixodes ricinus.

    Cats are infested in areas where the disease is highly endemic. They are less receptive than dogs. The frequency of the disease is not known because there are a lot of underdiagnosed cases.

    The treatment is the same as for dogs.

Check the risk for parasites in your area:

Enter the name of your city

Learn more about parasites

The threat of arthropod parasites for human and animal health is increasingly recognized world wide. The hazard of these insects or acarids is linked to both the direct lesions

they generate as well as their ability to transmit diseases.

Read more about parasites

How does the model work ?

FleaTickRisk is a unique and dynamic model encompassing an ongoing collaboration between researchers. The maps generated allow visualisation of the risk of infestation by ticks and fleas.

Read more about the mathematical model

Special content for vets

The site is a tool dedicated to vets to assist them with predicting and managing the risk posed by ectoparasites and the diseases they transmit.

Read more
footer logol

Mobile App

Home
Download our free mobile app to stay up to date with the changing risks for parasites in your region.
 
 
©Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health
  • Legal mention
  • Sitemap
  • Cookie Policy
  • Contact
  • Boehringer Ingelheim
  • Mobile App