title: Synovial fluid cytology in experimental acute canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis).
abstract: Evidence-based information of a cause-and-effect relationship between Ehrlichia canis infection and polyarthritis in naturally- or experimentally-infected dogs is currently lacking. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate whether synovial fluid cytological evidence of arthritis could be documented in dogs with acute monocytic ehrlichiosis. Direct synovial fluid cytology smears from eight Beagle dogs experimentally infected with E. canis were examined prior to, and on 21, 35 and 63 days post-inoculation. The cytological variables assessed included cellularity, percentages of mononuclear cells and neutrophils, macrophage reactivity and evidence of E. canis morulae. The median cellularity and percentages of mononuclear cells and neutrophils prior to inoculation did not differ when compared to post-inoculation cytological evaluation. Increased cellularity, E. canis morulae or cytological evidence of arthritis or macrophage reactivity were not observed throughout the course of the study. In the present study, no cytological evidence of arthritis was found in dogs with experimental acute canine monocytic ehrlichiosis, suggesting that E. canis infection should be considered a rather uncommon cause of arthritis in dogs.
authors.affiliation: Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (CAC-AUTh), 11 Stavrou Voutyra Str., 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Theodorou
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Epidemiology, Biostatistics of Animal Health Economics, School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Thessaly, 224 Trikalon Str., 43100 Karditsa, Greece.
authors.forename: Leonidas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leontides
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Victoria I
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Siarkou
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Medicine, School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Thessaly, 224 Trikalon Str., 43100 Karditsa, Greece.
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Petanides
authors.affiliation: Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (CAC-AUTh), 11 Stavrou Voutyra Str., 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsafas
authors.affiliation: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
authors.forename: Shimon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harrus
authors.affiliation: Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (CAC-AUTh), 11 Stavrou Voutyra Str., 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: mmylonak@vet.auth.gr.
authors.forename: Mathios E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Mylonakis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001168:Arthritis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D041061:Ehrlichia canis; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000166:cytology*
keywords: Cytology; Dog; Ehrlichia canis; Monocytic ehrlichiosis; Synovial fluid