Suspected ehrlichial infection in five cats from a household.
Ehrlichiosis is a poorly recognized condition of cats that may be associated with anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, or dysproteinemia. Affected cats may have indirect fluorescent antibody titers to Ehrlichia canis and E risticii. We reviewed the clinical evaluation and response to treatment of 5 cats in a household where ehrlichial disease was suspected as the cause of recurrent leukopenias and thrombocytopenias. All of the cats had E risticii indirect fluorescent antibody titers and western blot confirmation of antibodies to 4 of the 9 major antigens of E risticii. Response to doxycycline was monitored serologically and hematologically in each cat, and indicated that administration of doxycycline at a dosage of 10 mg/kg of body weight, PO, every 12 hours, for a minimum of 21 days is necessary for treatment of this condition.
Peavy
G M
GM
Antech Diagnostic Laboratory, Irvine, CA 92714, USA.
Holland
C J
CJ
Dutta
S K
SK
Smith
G
G
Moore
A
A
Rich
L J
LJ
Lappin
M R
MR
Richter
K
K
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000662:veterinary; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D002415:Cats; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004536:Ehrlichia / Q000276:immunology*; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004318:Doxycycline