CLINICAL AND HAEMATO-BIOCHEMICAL OBSERVATIONS IN DOGS NATURALLY INFECTED WITH CANINE MONOCYTIC EHRLICHIOSIS

The present study reported the clinical observations and haemato-biochemical abnormalities associated with Ehrlichia canis in dogs naturally infected with canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) referred to a Teaching Veterinary Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab. A total of 41 dogs infected with E. canis based on microscopic examination of Leishmanstained thin blood smears (n=17) and/or polymerase chain reaction assay (n=24) were included in the study. Clinical findings were recorded, and haemato-biochemical data of dogs with CME was compared with that of 44 apparently healthy dogs. Most common clinical manifestations associated with CME included tick infestation (90.2%), melena (75.6%), pale mucous membrane (61%), lymphadenopathy (48.8%) and epistaxis (41.5%). When compared with healthy dogs, the mean values of platelets, haemoglobin, haematocrit, total erythrocyte count, total protein and albumin were significantly (p<0.001) decreased. Conversely, the mean values of absolute neutrophil count, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin and blood urea nitrogen were significantly (p<0.05 to p<0.0001) increased in dogs with CME. The current study indicated that CME is very much common in dog population of Punjab, thus stressing the need to make dog owners aware regarding tick control measures. Major clinical and haemato-biochemical abnormalities in infected dogs are required to be addressed while undertaking therapeutic management in these dogs.