Clinicopathological study of experimentally induced canine monocytic ehrlichiosis

The aims of this study are to investigate the hematology, blood chemistry, pathological study, including macroscopic and microscopic lesions, of experimentally induced canine monocytic erhlichiosis in Thailand and to demonstrate the distribution of Ehrlichia canis in target organs by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Five experimental healthy dogs were inoculated with 5 ml of whole blood (estimated number of E. canis morulae 15 × 10 –5 % per monocytes) from the splenectomized dog via the saphenous vein. Two healthy dogs served as a negative control. Hematology revealed nonregenerative normocytic normochromic anemia, thrombocytopenia and mild leukopenia. Blood chemistry revealed an increase in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (AP), hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, and hyperglobulinemia by day 66 post-inoculation. Pathology revealed anemia, ascites, jaundice, interstitial pneumonia, splenomegaly, generalized lymphadenopathy, and severe fatty liver. The detection of E. canis was performed using tissue embedded in paraffin wax by nested PCR showing positive in all target organs. This study concluded that acute induced experimental canine monocytic ehrlichiosis can cause significant clinical and pathological lesions.