Pharmacokinetics and adverse effects of doxycycline in the treatment of Ehrlichiosis: theoretical foundations for clinical trials in canines

Ehrlichia canis is the causative bacterium of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME), a disease of global importance in veterinary and human medicine. Several studies have addressed the therapeutic efficacy of tetracycline hydrochloride and doxycycline hyclate (HD) for the treatment of CME, however the results are still controversial. Doxycycline is the treatment of choice for canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME), a well characterized disease that can serve as a model for research in diseases of the Rickettsial order and tick-borne zoonoses. Although the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of the treatment in the acute and subclinical CME phases have been known for decades, some results also indicate that Ehrlichia canis may persist in clinically normal dogs, even after an extensive treatment regimen. The purpose of this review is to (major delve into/further investigate) the pharmacokinetics and side effects of doxycycline in the treatment of canine ehrlichiosis.