Clinical relevance of annual screening using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (SNAP 3Dx) for canine ehrlichiosis.
Eighty-six dogs were selected based upon Ehrlichia (E.) canis SNAP 3Dx positive results to determine clinical relevance of annual E. canis screening. Immunofluorescence assay showed 72 (84%) of 86 dogs were seroreactive for E. canis. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) revealed that 12 (14%) of 86 dogs had Ehrlichia deoxyribonucleic acid; seven had E. canis, four had E. ewingii, and one was coinfected with E. chaffeensis and E. ewingii. Thrombocytopenia (<164,000 platelets/microL) was found in 28 (39%) of 72 dogs. In this study, thrombocytopenia was frequently detected in healthy Ehrlichia SNAP 3Dx-positive dogs, whereas active infection was infrequently confirmed by PCR. Therefore, treatment based upon screening results alone is not recommended.
Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, USA.
Barbara C
BC
Hegarty
Pedro Paulo Vissotto
PP
de Paiva Diniz
Julie M
JM
Bradley
Leif
L
Lorentzen
Edward
E
Breitschwerdt
D000818:Animals; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004285:Dogs; D004536:Ehrlichia / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000097:blood; D014481:United States