L'Ehrlichiosis
Infectious disease caused by a bacterium (rickettsia type, most often Ehrlichia canis) transmitted by ticks and infiltrating white blood cells. The tick transmits this bacterium during a blood meal and the clinical signs appear after an incubation period and include depression, fever, lameness, vomiting, etc.
Ehrlichiosis is fatal in +-30% of cases when left untreated. The carriage can be chronic.
cas clinique:
Pop's is a 2 year old sterilized female spaniel cross presented for acute depression, stiffness. She is regularly in the presence of horses in the meadow.
On examination, the dog presented with an abnormal gait (walking on eggshells), slight hyperthermia at 38.6 and an increase in the size of her spleen on abdominal palpation.
A complete blood work was done and showed neutrophils (increased numbers of certain white blood cells) and blood platelets at the lower limit of normal.
The blood smear did not reveal piroplasmosis. A rapid blood test (snap 4DX) made it possible to diagnose ehrlichiosis.
An antibacterial/anti-inflammatory and anti-parasitic treatment was put in place for several weeks. Pop's general condition improved very quickly and a blood test carried out 3 weeks later showed elimination of ehrlichiosis.
This case shows us the importance of anti-parasitic treatments, especially in the spring/summer period. A leishmaniasis vaccination was also advised.
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