Retrospective analysis of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis in Thailand with emphasis on hematological and ultrasonographic changes

Vet World Vol.15 January-2022 Article-1

Research Article

Veterinary World, 15(1): 1-9

https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2022.1-9

Kris Angkanaporn¹, Jidapha Sanguanwai², Taratip O. Baiyokvichit², Pichamon Vorrachotvarittorn², Montana Wongsompong², and Woraporn Sukhumavasi³

1. Department of Veterinary Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
2. Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
3. Parasitology Unit, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.

Background and Aim: Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) is a tropical endemic tick-borne disease that causes fatality or chronic infection involving many organs in dogs. This study aimed to examine the prevalence, risk factors, and hematological and ultrasonographic changes in the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, and spleen following CME infection.

Materials and Methods: This retrospective study used 30,269 samples collected from dogs at the hematology section of the pathology unit of a university veterinary hospital and 35 samples collected from dogs at the diagnostic imaging unit. CME was determined using the buffy coat smear method. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and odds ratios.

Results: CCl4 The data revealed that the average yearly prevalence of CME was 1.32%. Risk factors contributing to CME infection were a tick on the body during physical examination, lack of ectoparasite control, and outdoor living. All 148 dogs with CME infection had low platelet counts. The percentages of CME-infected dogs with elevated serum alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and both enzymes above the normal range were 33.6%, 65.9%, and 29.8%, respectively. The rates for elevated serum levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and both compounds were 33.1%, 19.1%, and 17.3%, respectively. The most common ultrasonographic changes were liver abnormalities (hyperechogenicity or hypoechogenicity, hepatomegaly, and hypoechoic nodules), hyperechogenicity of the kidneys, and an enlarged spleen. These ultrasonographic changes were consistent with the hematology results, which showed a greater elevation of serum liver enzyme levels than renal enzymes.

Conclusion: Ultrasonographic changes during CME infection and after treatment with doxycycline can help to monitor and identify persistent pathological changes in the target organs resulting from immune response to CME. Keywords: dog, ehrlichiosis, hematology, monocyte, ultrasound.

Keywords: dog, ehrlichiosis, hematology, monocyte, ultrasound.

How to cite this article: Angkanaporn K, Sanguanwai J, Baiyokvichit TO, Vorrachotvarittorn P, Wongsompong M, Sukhumavasi W (2022) Retrospective analysis of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis in Thailand with emphasis on hematological and ultrasonographic changes, Veterinary World, 15(1): 1-9.

Received: 30-07-2021 Accepted: 26-11-2021 Published online: 05-01-2022

Corresponding author: Kris Angkanaporn E-mail: akris@chula.ac.th

DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2022.1-9

Copyright: Angkanaporn, et al. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http:// creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.