CANINE MONOCYTIC ERLICHIOSE: UPDATES ON THE DISEASE

Abstract

The main pathogen that causes ehrlichiosis in dogs is Erlichia canis. Its transmission depends on the vector, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, a tick that transmits the disease to dogs through blood meal, by inoculation of saliva. Occurs in regions with a tropical climate. This condition is multisystemic, with nonspecific clinical signs, which makes early diagnosis and treatment difficult. It is divided into acute, subclinical and chronic phases. Its diagnosis is based on history, anamnesis, physical examination and complementary tests. The most used test is the rapid dot-ELISA test, however, the test that presents a definitive diagnosis is the PCR. One of the most common laboratory findings is thrombocytopenia, but it must be differentiated from other diseases that also present this alteration and that are transmitted by the same vector. Effective treatment is with antibiotic therapy and supportive therapies aimed at the remission of clinical signs. The recommended drug is doxycycline. There is no fully effective method of preventing the disease or controlling the vector so that it does not spread on a large scale. Therefore, the measures taken are related to the control of the vector, in animals and in the environment. Pour on, spot on, collars, and isoxazolines are used. There are also essential oils, such as Cloves, for environmental control, as a possibility for the future. This work aims to carry out a review of the current literature on the disease, addressing its main aspects, among them, definition, etiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, control and prevention.