Vol. 8, Special Issue 5 (2023)

Canine ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by an obligate intracellular alpha‐ proteobacterium, Ehrlichia canis transmitted by Rhipicephalus sanguineus characterized by thrombocytopenia, variable leucopenia, anaemia, fever, anorexia, lymphadenopathy, haemorrhages in mucous membrane, peripheral oedema, emaciation and hypotensive shock leading to death.

Methods: Among the febrile dogs presented to 8 different veterinary hospitals and clinics of Kathmandu valley, 270 samples were randomly selected and tested by SensPERT E. canis Antibody Test Kit. Positive samples were tested for morula detection by blood smear microscopy and measurement of hematological and biochemistry parameters. Questionnaire was done for risk factor analysis.

Results: Overall seroprevalence by Rapid antibody test was 11.85% (32/270) and prevalence of 4.07% (11/270 by blood smear microscopy. Variation in prevalence of E. canis with housing, history of anorexia, hemorrhage in mucous membrane and edema were statistically significant (p<0.05) and that with sex, location and age groups were found statistically insignificant (p>0.05) in dogs seropositive by rapid test. In dogs positive to blood smear similarity was found except housing was found statistically not significant (p>0.05). In hematological and biochemical parameters variation in monocyte, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, platelets, albumin and glucose with reference value were found statistically significant by z test (p<0.05) and WBC, Neutrophil, Lymphocyte, Eosinophil, Basophil, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, total/direct bilirubin, SGPT (ALT), SGOT (AST), ALP and total protein were not statistically significant (p> 0.05) in febrile dogs positive by rapid test. Moreover, in dogs positive by smear microscopy significant relation was seen also in Eosinophil (p< 0.05). Febrile dogs with hemorrhage in mucous membrane, edema anorexia are most prone to get infection with E canis (p<0.05). Similarly, febrile dogs with hematological and biochemical parameters like thrombocytopenia, monocytopenia, low packed cell volume, low hemoglobin, decreased albumin and glucose level strongly suggest an infection with Ehrlichia infection.