Evaluation of neutrophil oxidative metabolism in canine monocytic ehrlichiosis.
BACKGROUND
Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) is a tick-borne disease caused by Ehrlichia canis, a rickettsia that infects the monocytes of dogs. This infection can result in a chronic and life-threatening disease. Thrombocytopenia, mild anemia, and leukopenia are the most common hematologic findings in CME.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of peripheral blood neutrophils in CME, an evaluation was conducted of their functional state during the acute phase of the disease in dogs experimentally infected by E canis.


METHODS
Seven dogs were inoculated with E canis, and 3 remained as uninfected controls. All dogs had physical exams and hematologic tests (CBC and nitroblue tetrazolium [NBT] reduction) during a 6-week period.


RESULTS
There was no difference (P > .05) in spontaneous NBT reduction results between the 2 groups of dogs throughout the 6-week period of observation. Nevertheless, when stimulated, the neutrophils showed higher activity in the infected group (P = .01) on weeks 4 and 5 after infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Infection by E canis has no influence on neutrophil oxidative metabolism even though during the remission period of the acute phase of the disease, the neutrophils seem to be more reactive under stimulation.
Hasegawa
Marcia Y
MY
College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. myhasegawa@usp.br
Kohayagawa
Aguemi
A
Brandão
Leonardo P
LP
Morgulis
Maria Silvia F A
MS
Hagiwara
Mitika K
MK
D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D004285:Dogs; D041061:Ehrlichia canis; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012016:Reference Values