Serum cardiac troponin I concentration in dogs with ehrlichiosis.
BACKGROUND
Ehrlichiosis is a multisystemic disease with the potential to cause cardiomyocyte injury in naturally infected dogs.


OBJECTIVE
Myocardial injury occurs in dogs infected with Ehrlichia canis.


METHODS
One-hundred and ninety-four dogs from Brazil with clinical and laboratory abnormalities indicative of ehrlichiosis. Sixteen healthy dogs served as controls.


METHODS
Electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, noninvasive blood pressure measurement, and serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations were evaluated. Serologic assays and PCR determined the exposure and infection status for E. canis, Anaplasma spp., Babesia canis vogeli, Bartonella spp., Borrelia burgdorferi, Dirofilaria immitis, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia ewingii, Leishmania chagasi, and spotted-fever group Rickettsia. Dogs were assigned to groups according to PCR status: E. canis infected, infected with other vector-borne organisms, sick dogs lacking PCR evidence for infection, and healthy controls.


RESULTS
E. canis-infected dogs had higher serum cTnI concentrations than controls (median: 0.04 ng/dL; range 0.04-9.12 ng/dL; control median: 0.04 ng/dL; range: 0.04-0.10 ng/dL; P= .012), and acute E. canis infection was associated with myocardial injury (odds ratio [OR]: 2.67, confidence interval [CI] 95%: 1.12-6.40, P= .027). Severity of anemia was correlated with increased risk of cardiomyocyte damage (r= 0.84, P< .001). Dogs with clinical signs of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) were at higher risk for myocardial injury than were other sick dogs (OR: 2.55, CI 95%: 1.31-4.95, P= .005).


CONCLUSIONS
Acute infection with E. canis is a risk factor for myocardial injury in naturally infected Brazilian dogs. Severity of anemia and SIRS might contribute to the pathophysiology of myocardial damage.
Diniz
P P V P
PP
Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
de Morais
H S A
HS
Breitschwerdt
E B
EB
Schwartz
D S
DS
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D004285:Dogs; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D019210:Troponin I / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D019210:Troponin I