Ehrlichia canis Infection in Two Dogs that Emigrated from Endemic Areas

• Published in: Journal of Veterinary Medical Science Vol. 74; no. 6; pp. 775 - 778
• Main Authors: BABA, Kenji, ITAMOTO, Kazuhito, AMIMOTO, Akiteru, KITAGAWA, Kozue, HIRAOKA, Hiroko, MIZUNO, Takuya, SATO, Hiroshi, OKUDA, Masaru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan JAPANESE SOCIETY OF VETERINARY SCIENCE 01.06.2012; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: Animal Migration; Animals; canine; Cerebrospinal Fluid - cytology; China; diagnosis; Dog Diseases - microbiology; Dog Diseases - pathology; Dogs; Ehrlichia canis; Ehrlichia canis - genetics; Ehrlichiosis - veterinary; Inclusion Bodies - pathology; Japan; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - pathology; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - veterinary; polymerase chain reaction; Polymerase Chain Reaction - veterinary; Sequence Analysis, DNA - veterinary; Zambia; China; Japan; Zambia
• ISSN: 0916-7250; 1347-7439
• DOI: 10.1292/jvms.11-0401

Two dogs, emigrated from Zambia and China to Japan, were diagnosed with Ehrlichia canis infection. Both cases had thrombocytopenia, non-regenerative anemia, and hypergloblinemia with polyclonal gammopathy. Case 1 had ataxia of the hind limbs. Severe meningitis was revealed by magnetic resonance imaging examination. Intracytoplasmic inclusions were observed in mononuclear cells of cerebrospinal fluid. Case 2 had a history of bilateral epistaxis, and severe pancytopenia was noticed in complete blood count. Diagnosis was finally achieved by nested polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis. Thus, even in non-endemic areas, E. canis infection should be included in the differential diagnosis of clinically ill dogs that emigrated from endemic areas.