PlumX Metrics
Embed PlumX Metrics

Ehrlichia canis infection in the cerebrospinal fluid of a dog characterized by morulae within monocytes and neutrophils

Veterinary Clinical Pathology, ISSN: 1939-165X, Vol: 49, Issue: 3, Page: 470-475
2020
  • 7
    Citations
  • 0
    Usage
  • 43
    Captures
  • 0
    Mentions
  • 134
    Social Media
Metric Options:   Counts1 Year3 Year

Metrics Details

  • Citations
    7
  • Captures
    43
  • Social Media
    134
    • Shares, Likes & Comments
      134
      • Facebook
        134

Article Description

An 8-year-old neutered female English Pointer was referred to a veterinary referral center (southwest of England) with a 4-5-month history of fecal incontinence and no evidence of urinary incontinence. Blood and free-catch urine samples were collected and sent to an off-site laboratory. Further investigations were postponed until laboratory results were available. Blood results showed a mild leukopenia, mild nonregenerative anemia, moderate to marked thrombocytopenia, and a mild increase in ALT and ALP activities. The primary veterinarian and client did not proceed with any further investigations for thrombocytopenia. Three weeks after the initial presentation, there was considerable clinical deterioration and progression of neurologic signs. Thoracic radiographs and an abdominal ultrasonographic examination were unremarkable. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and spinal cord revealed an intramedullary lesion at the level of the C7 vertebra, a cystic lesion in the forebrain, and a bilateral lesion in the thalamus. A lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected. CSF analysis showed a robustly increased protein concentration and marked pleocytosis. The cytologic evaluation revealed a mixed cellular population. Occasional neutrophils and monocytoid cells showed purple spherical intracellular inclusions, resembling Ehrlichia morulae. An aliquot of CSF was used off-label with a dot ELISA test, which showed a strong positive result for antibodies against Ehrlichia canis/Ehrlichia ewingii. PCR identified these morulae to be E canis. To best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first case of ehrlichial infection in canine CSF where Ehrlichia sub-species morulae present within neutrophils were confirmed to be Ehrlichia canis using PCR.

Provide Feedback

Have ideas for a new metric? Would you like to see something else here?Let us know