Ehrlichiosis in Dogs

25/08/2022

Treatment
In addition to removal of ticks and applying an appropriate tick control program, E. canis infection in dogs may be treated by antibiotics. In some cases, supportive therapy and hospitalisation may be necessary. Early treatment provides the best chance of recovery.

25/08/2022

Control
Prevention
To help prevent ehrlichiosis:
maintain an effective tick prevention and control program. An effective tick prevention and control program will include:
using an external tick control that kills ticks on contact. Products that allow the tick to feed before killing the tick do not prevent infection.
treatment of bedding, kennels and yards to prevent reinfection from the environment.
avoid taking dogs into areas where E. canis is known or likely to be active
avoid taking dogs into tick-infested areas, such as the bush, as much as possible
inspect dogs for ticks after being in areas where E. canis is known or likely to be active or in tick-infested areas and carefully remove any ticks.
Veterinarians can provide advice on tick prevention and control programs, effective products and tick removal.

25/08/2022

Monitoring and action
Surveillance
Areas where the brown dog tick exists may pose a risk of ehrlichiosis to dogs. Surveillance to determine the distribution of the brown dog tick and E. canis is continuing to help refine the area where E. canis is known to be active. The current area where E. canis is known to be active is:
the entire Northern Territory
the Kimberley and Pilbara regions of Western Australia
northern South Australia
northwest Queensland.
Movements of dogs from these areas must be managed.
Movement conditions and obligations of dog owners
As a dog owner in Queensland, you have a general biosecurity obligation to be aware of and manage the risk of E. canis infection.
You should maintain your dog on an effective tick prevention and control program, avoid taking your dog into tick-infested areas as much as possible and regularly inspect your dog for ticks.
Even if you are taking these steps, if you are moving your dog from an area where E. canis is known or likely to be active you should assess your dog's health before entering or moving within Queensland. If your dog has not been on a tick prevention program, is unwell, or you are unsure, seek veterinary advice.
People moving or bringing dogs from interstate or adopting rescue dogs should always ask questions about where the animals came from, their history, their health status and what tick prevention they have prior to bringing them to Queensland or moving them within Queensland.
Testing dogs prior to movement will help ensure only healthy dogs are moved and E. canis is not introduced or unknowingly spread within Queensland.

25/08/2022

How it is spread
Transmission between dogs and other canids
Transmission between canids requires the tick vector. Canids become infected with E. canis after being bitten by an infected tick. Canids may also become infected through blood transfusions.
As E. canis is not naturally directly transmissible between dogs, possible pathways for its spread include movement of:
actively infected vectors that may infect naïve dogs (dogs that haven't been exposed to the bacteria before) in new locations
acutely infected dogs that infect naïve tick populations in new locations
chronically infected dogs that infect naïve tick populations in new locations.
Transmission to humans
Infected canids do not transmit E. canis to people. In rare cases, people may become infected with E. canis after being bitten by an infected tick.

25/08/2022

25/08/2022

03/04/2022

Clinical signs
Disease phases
Canine ehrlichiosis has 3 disease phases:
acute
subclinical
chronic.
The severity of clinical signs can vary considerably among dogs.
The incubation period for the development of acute disease is about 1–3 weeks although the chronic form may not show any clinical signs until months or years after infection.
Acute phase
This phase is characterised by non-specific clinical signs, including:
fever
lethargy
enlarged lymph nodes
anorexia
weight loss
discharge from the nose and eyes
bleeding disorders such as nosebleeds or bleeding under the skin that looks like small spots, patches or bruising.
There are usually abnormalities on blood tests including low platelets and mild anaemia. This phase typically lasts for 2–4 weeks.
In countries where ehrlichiosis is established and endemic, death is rare during this phase. Most dogs recover after 1–2 weeks without treatment however some may remain persistent subclinical carriers for months or years.
However, in Australia, where the disease is infecting a naïve population, very high morbidity with severe illness and mortality occur in the acute phase.
Subclinical phase
As noted above, some dogs may progress from the acute phase and become subclinical carriers for months or years. These dogs present no clinical signs and therefore may not seem to require veterinary attention.
Subclinical dogs either:
clear (get rid of) the organism
remain asymptomatically infected
progress to the chronic form of ehrlichiosis
The likelihood that subclinically infected dogs will go on to develop chronic, end-stage ehrlichiosis is unknown.
Chronic phase
Clinical signs are similar to the acute phase but are more severe. They can include:
fever
weakness
weight loss
bleeding disorders
pale mucous membranes
eye abnormalities
neurological abnormalities.
Infected dogs may be more susceptible to secondary infections. Blood tests often show severely low platelets, low white blood cells and anaemia. This form of the disease is usually fatal and treatment efforts are likely to be futile.

03/04/2022

Ehrlichiosis is a deadly dog disease. Dogs may become sick with ehrlichiosis if they are bitten by a brown dog tick infected with the bacteria Ehrlichia canis (E. canis).
In early 2022 ehrlichiosis was confirmed in a dog in northwest Queensland.
Since 2020, dogs have been infected by ticks in northern Western Australia, the Northern Territory and northern South Australia.
You can protect your dog and help stop the spread.
Make sure your dog is on an effective tick prevention and control program including an external tick control that kills brown dog ticks on contact.
If you are moving dogs from areas where E. canis is known or likely to be active, you must take steps to ensure you do not bring E. canis into Queensland or spread it within Queensland.

25/07/2021

Canine ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne disease of dogs caused by infection with the bacteria Ehrlichia canis. Dogs become infected with E. canis after being bitten by an infected tick, primarily the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus).
Ehrlichiosis is an intracellular bacterial infection that primarily infects the cells of the immune system. Infected dogs can present with a range of clinical signs.

25/07/2021

Distribution
E. canis is found in most of the world and follows the distribution of the vector, the brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus.
In May 2020, it was confirmed in domesticated dogs in the Halls Creek and Kununurra area of Western Australia. This was the first detection of E. canis in Australia.
Further detections have occurred in the Pilbara region of Western Australia and E. canis has been confirmed in domesticated dogs in most of the Northern Territory and in northern South Australia.
A Queensland dog tested positive for the disease in July 2021 after travelling through Western Australia and the Northern Territory. In early 2022, a case was confirmed in northwest Queensland in a dog that was reported to not have travelled outside the state.
Human-assisted movement of dogs is considered the most likely means of spreading E. canis in Queensland.

25/07/2021

13/07/2021

How is ehrlichiosis treated?
Your doctor may prescribe medication before they even get the test results if they suspect ehrlichiosis.
Treatment will involve taking an antibiotic for 10 to 14 days. Doxycycline (Acticlate) is the most commonly prescribed antibiotic for ehrlichiosis. However, your doctor may prescribe another antibiotic like rifampin (Rifadin) if you’re pregnant.
What is the outlook for ehrlichiosis?
Prompt treatment of ehrlichiosis is essential because severe complications can occur if it’s left untreated. Most people will be fully treated with a round of antibiotics. You should start to see significant improvement within 24 to 48 hours after starting treatment. Most people will experience a full recovery within three weeks of treatment.
Your best bet is to avoid ehrlichiosis and tick bites altogether. If you know you’ll be in an area that has ticks, practice tick-prevention methods to keep them away from you and your family.

13/07/2021

Tick bites are known to cause Lyme disease, but they can also transmit a condition called ehrlichiosis. It can cause very serious complications if left untreated. But it can be cured with prompt treatment.
Ehrlichiosis is most frequently caused by a bite from an infected lone star tick, though it can also be transmitted by dog ticks or deer ticks. Lone star ticks are common throughout the southeastern and south central United States, as well as the East Coast. The females have a white spot on their back.
Pictures of ehrlichiosis
What are the symptoms of ehrlichiosis?
Many people with ehrlichiosis think they have the flu or the stomach flu. The most common symptoms are:
chills
fever
muscle aches
headaches
general malaise
nausea
diarrhea
Only a small portion of people with ehrlichiosis will experience any type of rash. There are two types of rashes that can occur with this condition:
petechial rashes, which are tiny pin-sized spots caused by bleeding under the skin
flat, red rashes
The symptoms of ehrlichiosis are similar to the Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, another tick-borne illness. However, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is more likely to cause a rash.
Symptoms typically begin between 7 and 14 days after the tick bite, though some people never realize they have been bit by a tick.
If you see the tick:
Remove it carefully and very slowly, making sure to grab it as close to the head as possible so that no part of it gets left within your body. Kill it by placing it in rubbing alcohol. Never crush it and avoid touching it even with your fingers, as this alone can spread bacterial infections. You can tape it to a notecard so your doctor can test it later if needed.
What’s the difference between ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis?
The lone star tick can also cause another infection called anaplasmosis. The symptoms of anaplasmosis are very similar to ehrlichiosis. The main difference between the two infections is that ehrlichiosis is caused by E. chaffeensis bacteria. Anaplasmosis is caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum bacteria.
How is ehrlichiosis diagnosed?
If you’ve been bitten by a tick and are experiencing flu-like symptoms or notice a rash, make an appointment to see your doctor right away. Your doctor can test you for ehrlichiosis and other dangerous conditions caused by ticks, such as Lyme disease.
Your doctor will inspect the site of the tick bite and ask about what symptoms you’re experiencing. They will take your blood pressure and order blood tests to check for signs of a bacterial infection. These signs may include a low white blood cell count and a low platelet count, along with the presence of certain antibodies.
The blood work can also evaluate your kidney and liver function to search for complications.
Can ehrlichiosis cause other conditions to develop?
Even in a very healthy person (both adults and children), ehrlichiosis can have very serious consequences if left untreated. The risk of these complications increases significantly in those with weakened immune systems.
These complications can include:
organ failure, including kidney and liver failure
respiratory failure
heart failure
falling into a coma
seizures
While many of these complications can be treated if caught early enough, they may not be reversible. Though it’s extremely uncommon, people can die from ehrlichiosis.

13/07/2021

The brown dog tick is the main carrier of the Ehrlichia organism in nature. Other tick species, have also been shown to transmit the disease in dogs and may carry other subspecies of Ehrlichia.
What are the signs of ehrlichiosis?
Signs of ehrlichiosis can be divided into three stages: acute (early disease), sub-clinical (no outward signs of disease), and clinical or chronic (long-standing infection).
In areas where ehrlichiosis is common, many dogs are seen during the acute phase. In this stage, infected dogs may have fever, swollen lymph nodes, respiratory distress, weight loss, bleeding disorders (spontaneous hemorrhage or bleeding), and occasionally, neurological disturbances (they may seem unsteady or develop meningitis). This stage may last two to four weeks and some dogs may eliminate the infection or head in to the sub-clinical phase.
The sub-clinical phase represents the stage of infection in which the organism is present, but not causing any outward signs of disease. Sometimes a dog will pass through the acute phase without its owner being aware of the infection. These dogs may become sub-clinical and develop changes observed at the laboratory level, yet have no apparent signs of illness. The sub-clinical phase is often considered the worst phase because there are no clinical signs and therefore the disease goes undetected. The only hint that a dog may be infected during this phase may be after a blood sample is drawn, when the dog shows prolonged bleeding from the puncture site. Dogs that are infected sub-clinically may eliminate the organisms or may progress to the next stage, clinical ehrlichiosis.
Clinical ehrlichiosis occurs because the immune system is not able to eliminate the organism. Dogs are likely to develop a host of problems: anemia, bleeding episodes, lameness, eye problems (including hemorrhage into the eyes or blindness), neurological problems, and swollen limbs. If the bone marrow (site of blood cell production) fails, the dog becomes unable to manufacture any of the blood cells necessary to sustain life (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets).
How is ehrlichiosis diagnosed?
It may be difficult to diagnose infected dogs during the very early stages of infection. The immune system usually takes two to three weeks to respond to the presence of the organism and develop antibodies.
Since the presence of antibodies to E. canis is the basis of the most common diagnostic testing, the early stages of disease dogs may be infected, yet test negative. Testing performed a few weeks later will reveal the presence of antibodies and make confirmation of the diagnosis possible. Your veterinarian can perform a screening test in clinic using a special test kit to see if your dog was exposed. Your veterinarian may use ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) or IFA (indirect fluorescent antibody) tests to determine the severity or species of Ehrlichia that is infecting your dog. These tests are sent to outside labs for analysis.
Rarely, the organism itself may be seen in blood smears or in samples of cells taken from the lymph nodes, spleen, and lungs. This is a very uncommon finding. Therefore, detection of antibodies, coupled with appropriate clinical signs, is the primary diagnostic criteria. Baseline blood tests including a complete blood cell count and chemistry should also be done. A low platelet count (called thrombocytopenia), anemia (low red blood cell counts), and/or high levels of the protein globulin in the blood may be found.
A newer test, a PCR assay, is becoming available in certain veterinary laboratories. If a dog is suspected of having ehrlichiosis, this test should be considered.
How is ehrlichiosis treated?
Dogs experiencing severe anemia or bleeding problems may require a blood transfusion. However, this does nothing to treat the underlying disease.
Certain antibiotics, such as doxycycline, are quite effective. A long course of treatment, generally four weeks, is needed. This is the treatment of choice as it is easily accessible and generally well tolerated. Alternatively, imidocarb (not available in Canada) can be used intravenously. Your veterinarian will discuss treatment options with you as some supportive medications such as steroids may be needed depending on the clinical state of the patient and blood parameters.
Can anything be done to prevent ehrlichiosis?
Ridding the dog's environment of ticks and applying flea and tick preventives are the most effective means of prevention. Topical options include Advantix and Frontline Plus (given once per month) or Bravecto (given once every 3 months). Oral chewable options include Nexgard (given monthly), Simparica (given monthly), or Bravecto (given every 3 months). Your veterinarian will help you determine which preventive is right for your dog.
Can I get ehrlichiosis from my dog?
No. However, humans can get canine ehrlichiosis from tick bites. The disease is only transmitted through the bites of ticks. Therefore, even though the disease is not transmitted directly from dogs to humans, infected dogs serve as sentinels, or warnings to indicate the presence of infected ticks in the area.

09/07/2021

What are the signs of ehrlichiosis?
Signs of ehrlichiosis can be divided into three stages: acute (early disease), sub-clinical (no outward signs of disease), and clinical or chronic (long-standing infection).

In areas where ehrlichiosis is common, many dogs are seen during the acute phase. In this stage, infected dogs may have fever, swollen lymph nodes, respiratory distress, weight loss, bleeding disorders (spontaneous hemorrhage or bleeding), and occasionally, neurological disturbances (they may seem unsteady or develop meningitis). This stage may last two to four weeks and some dogs may eliminate the infection or head in to the sub-clinical phase.

The sub-clinical phase represents the stage of infection in which the organism is present, but not causing any outward signs of disease. Sometimes a dog will pass through the acute phase without its owner being aware of the infection. These dogs may become sub-clinical and develop changes observed at the laboratory level, yet have no apparent signs of illness. The sub-clinical phase is often considered the worst phase because there are no clinical signs and therefore the disease goes undetected. The only hint that a dog may be infected during this phase may be after a blood sample is drawn, when the dog shows prolonged bleeding from the puncture site. Dogs that are infected sub-clinically may eliminate the organisms or may progress to the next stage, clinical ehrlichiosis.

Clinical ehrlichiosis occurs because the immune system is not able to eliminate the organism. Dogs are likely to develop a host of problems: anemia, bleeding episodes, lameness, eye problems (including hemorrhage into the eyes or blindness), neurological problems, and swollen limbs. If the bone marrow (site of blood cell production) fails, the dog becomes unable to manufacture any of the blood cells necessary to sustain life (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets).

How is ehrlichiosis diagnosed?
It may be difficult to diagnose infected dogs during the very early stages of infection. The immune system usually takes two to three weeks to respond to the presence of the organism and develop antibodies.

Since the presence of antibodies to E. canis is the basis of the most common diagnostic testing, the early stages of disease dogs may be infected, yet test negative. Testing performed a few weeks later will reveal the presence of antibodies and make confirmation of the diagnosis possible. Your veterinarian can perform a screening test in clinic using a special test kit to see if your dog was exposed. Your veterinarian may use ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) or IFA (indirect fluorescent antibody) tests to determine the severity or species of Ehrlichia that is infecting your dog. These tests are sent to outside labs for analysis.

Rarely, the organism itself may be seen in blood smears or in samples of cells taken from the lymph nodes, spleen, and lungs. This is a very uncommon finding. Therefore, detection of antibodies, coupled with appropriate clinical signs, is the primary diagnostic criteria. Baseline blood tests including a complete blood cell count and chemistry should also be done. A low platelet count (called thrombocytopenia), anemia (low red blood cell counts), and/or high levels of the protein globulin in the blood may be found.

A newer test, a PCR assay, is becoming available in certain veterinary laboratories. If a dog is suspected of having ehrlichiosis, this test should be considered.

How is ehrlichiosis treated?
Dogs experiencing severe anemia or bleeding problems may require a blood transfusion. However, this does nothing to treat the underlying disease.

Certain antibiotics, such as doxycycline, are quite effective. A long course of treatment, generally four weeks, is needed. This is the treatment of choice as it is easily accessible and generally well tolerated. Alternatively, imidocarb (not available in Canada) can be used intravenously. Your veterinarian will discuss treatment options with you as some supportive medications such as steroids may be needed depending on the clinical state of the patient and blood parameters.

Can anything be done to prevent ehrlichiosis?image 13
Ridding the dog's environment of ticks and applying flea and tick preventives are the most effective means of prevention. Topical options include Advantix and Frontline Plus (given once per month) or Bravecto (given once every 3 months). Oral chewable options include Nexgard (given monthly), Simparica (given monthly), or Bravecto (given every 3 months). Your veterinarian will help you determine which preventive is right for your dog.

Can I get ehrlichiosis from my dog?
No. However, humans can get canine ehrlichiosis from tick bites. The disease is only transmitted through the bites of ticks. Therefore, even though the disease is not transmitted directly from dogs to humans, infected dogs serve as sentinels, or warnings to indicate the presence of infected ticks in the area.

09/07/2021

The brown dog tick is the main carrier of the Ehrlichia organism in nature. Other tick species, have also been shown to transmit the disease in dogs and may carry other subspecies of Ehrlichia.

09/07/2021

How is a dog infected with Ehrlichia?female_brown_dog_tick
Ehrlichiosis is a disease that develops in dogs after being bitten by an infected tick. In the United States, E. canis is considered endemic in the southeastern and southwestern states, though the brown dog tick is found throughout the United States and Canada.

09/07/2021

Ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne infectious disease of dogs, usually carried by the brown dog tick. It first gained attention as a significant disease when military dogs returning from Vietnam during the 1970's were found to be infected. The disease seems to be particularly severe in German Shepherd Dogs and Doberman Pinschers.

The organism responsible for this disease is a rickettsial organism. Rickettsiae are similar to bacteria. Ehrlichia canis is the most common rickettsial species involved in ehrlichiosis in dogs, but occasionally other strains of the organism will be found. Because of its origin in military dogs in Vietnam, it has also been called tracker dog disease and tropical canine pancytopenia.

09/07/2021

Diagnoses
Ehrlichiosis is diagnosed through a combination of:
consistent clinical signs
blood tests.
If you see clinical signs consistent with ehrlichiosis, consult a veterinarian.

Ehrlichiosis is a disease that effects dogs and is caused by a tick-borne bacteria called Ehrlichia canis. The brown dog tick which is present across northern Australia is the main carrier of this disease,