Therapeutic effect of doxycycline in experimental subclinical canine monocytic ehrlichiosis: evaluation of a 6-week course.
The efficacy of doxycycline treatment (10 mg/kg of body weight every 24 h for 42 days) in eliminating Ehrlichia canis from four subclinically infected dogs was evaluated. One dog remained PCR positive, suggesting that 6 weeks of doxycycline treatment may not be sufficient to clear E. canis parasites from all subclinically infected dogs. Serology (indirect immunofluorescent antibody assay) was shown to be unreliable in assessing recovery from the carrier state, as anti-E. canis antibodies persisted after elimination of the parasite. Our findings suggest that an increase in the platelet count may be an important indicator for dogs that recover from subclinical ehrlichiosis.
Harrus
S
S
Department of Clinical Sciences, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel. harrus@agri.huji.ac.il
Waner
T
T
Aizenberg
I
I
Bark
H
H
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D004285:Dogs; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004536:Ehrlichia / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D010976:Platelet Count; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004318:Doxycycline