Frequency and Clinical Epidemiology of Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis in Dogs Infested with Ticks from Sinaloa, Mexico

Abstract

Ehrlichia canis is a rickettsial intracellular obligate bacterial pathogen and agent of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis. The prevalence of this disease in veterinary medicine can vary depending on the diagnostic method used and the geographic location. One hundred and fifty-two canine blood samples from six veterinary clinics and two shelters from Sinaloa State (Mexico) were analyzed in this study. All animals were suspected of having Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis (CME). The diagnostic methods used were the ELISA (Snap4Dx, IDEXX) together with blood smear and platelet count. From all dogs blood samples analyzed, 74.3% were positive to E. canis by ELISA and 40.1% were positive by blood smear. The sensitivity and specificity observed in the ELISA test were 78.8% and 86.7%. In addition, thrombocytopenia was presented in 87.6% of positive dogs. The predominant clinical manifestations observed were fever, anorexia, depression, lethargy, and petechiae. Consequently, this is the first report in which the morulae were visualized in the blood samples, and E. canis-specific antibodies were detected in dogs from Sinaloa, Northwest of Mexico.

Pathogenic Landscape of Transboundary Zoonotic Diseases in the Mexico–US Border Along the Rio Grande

“…In the US, these diseases include: (1) Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), (2) human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME), (3) human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) ( 135 ), (4) Ehrlichia ewingii infection, and (5) other emerging TBRD (Table 1 ). TBRD are common occurrences in the medical and veterinary clinical setting, and are gaining more attention from physicians and veterinarians since TBRD continue to cause severe illness and death in otherwise healthy individuals ( 136 , 137 ). The epidemiology of these diseases reflects the geographic distribution and seasonal activities of vectors and reservoirs and human behavior that places persons at risk for infection through tick bite ( 13 , 129 , 137 , 138 ).…”

Primer análisis filogenético de Ehrlichia canis en perros y garrapatas de México. Estudio preliminar

“…CME distribution is closely related to the distribution of the vector (3). The national seroprevalence of dogs in Mexico is 33% and 74.5% in the northwest of the country (4). The clinical symptoms commonly seen with this disease in infected dogs are fever, vomiting, arthralgia, rash, and diarrhea (5).…”

“…La distribución de CME está estrechamente relacionada con la distribución del vector (3). En México, la seroprevalencia nacional en perros es de 33%, y 74.5% en el noroeste del país (4). Las manifestaciones clínicas en los perros infectados son: fiebre, vómito, artralgia, rash, y diarrea (5).…”

Tick-Borne Rickettsial Pathogens in Rodents from Mexico

“…These pathogens are maintained in natural cycles involving wild mammals and hard-bodied (Ixodid) ticks. The epidemiologies of these diseases reflect the geographic distribution and seasonal activities of the vectors and reservoirs and the human behavior that place persons at risk for attachment and subsequent infection [1] [2]. TBRD are common occurrences in the medical and veterinary clinical setting, affecting domestic animals and humans, who has increased in recent years; gaining more attention from physicians and veterinarians [3].…”