Vol. 11, Special Issue 9 (2022)

Author(s):
Vinay M Ratnalikar, VVV Amruth Kumar, P Nagaraj, B Anil Kumar and K Satish Kumar

Abstract:
776 dogs showing pyrexia, anorexia, hemorrhagic tendencies and pale conjunctiva which were suggestive of clinical signs of E. canis were identified at Veterinary Clinical Complex, College of Veterinary Science, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad during the period January 2020 to February 2021 and subjected for detailed clinical examination. 124 dogs were screened for ehrlichiosis by different diagnostic methods. Out of 124 samples 5 (4.03%), 109 (87.5%), 120 (96.77%) samples were detected as positive for ehrlichiosis by peripheral blood smear examination, rapid antigen test kit and nested PCR respectively. The clinical signs of Ehrlichia canis infected dogs were tick infestation, anorexia, pale mucosa, pyrexia and hemorrhagic tendencies (melena, petechial hemorrhages and epistaxis). Other signs observed were respiratory distress, scleral hemorrhage, recumbency and emesis. The haematological and bio-chemical alterations in Ehrlichia canis infected dogs include significant increase in mean total leukocyte count, ALT, ALP, BUN and creatinine and significant decrease was recorded in mean Hb, HCT, TEC and platelet count and A/G ratio.