Erliquiose monocítica canina: relato de caso

Abstract

Canine ehrlichiosis stands out for its casuistic relevance. Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis is caused by Ehrlichia canis, being transmitted to the animal by the tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus at the time of blood meal. Clinical signs vary with the stage of the disease (acute, subclinical and chronic) and the affected organs and tissues. For the diagnosis of the disease, in addition to the clinical signs that may be suggestive of ehrlichiosis, severe laboratory abnormalities may contribute to the increase in the suspicion of the condition. Doxycycline is the drug of choice for the treatment of the condition, and may vary in relation to dose and treatment time. The case is a nine-month-old Golden Retriever, with a history of tick infestation and nonspecific clinical signs. After treatment with doxycycline and control of ticks, the patient had clinical improvement, with the tests returning to normal for species and the negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR).