Diagnosis of canine monocytotropic ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis): an overview.
Canine monocytotropic ehrlichiosis (CME), caused by the rickettsia Ehrlichia canis, an important canine disease with a worldwide distribution. Diagnosis of the disease can be challenging due to its different phases and multiple clinical manifestations. CME should be suspected when a compatible history (living in or traveling to an endemic region, previous tick exposure), typical clinical signs and characteristic hematological and biochemical abnormalities are present. Traditional diagnostic techniques including hematology, cytology, serology and isolation are valuable diagnostic tools for CME, however a definitive diagnosis of E. canis infection requires molecular techniques. This article reviews the current literature covering the diagnosis of infection caused by E. canis.
Harrus
Shimon
S
Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, PO Box 12, Rehovot 76100, Israel. harrus@agri.huji.ac.il
Waner
Trevor
T
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000662:veterinary; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004285:Dogs; D041061:Ehrlichia canis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial