The First Report Of Ehrlichiosis In A Cat In Turkey

An 11-year old cat presented to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital in Mehmet Akif Ersoy University from a farm in Burdur province. She presented fever, lethargy, icteric mucous membrans, abdominal bloating and anorexia. An Ehrlichia canis infection was confirmed by blood smear and indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFAT) method. At the examination of blood smear marked anemia and anisocytosis were observed in erythrocytes. Ehrlichia spp. morulae stage were observed in cytoplasm of neutrophils. Blood samples were taken from cat for haematological and biochemical analysis. The cat was treated with doxycycline and recovered rapidly.