PREVALENCE AND CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF EHRLICHIA CANIS INFECTION IN DOGS IN THUA THIEN HUE

Abstract

The survey was carried out at OKADA PET Veterinary Center, Hue City, with 935 dogs                             of different ages and breeds. The results show that 39.6% of dogs have the clinical signs of Ehrlichia canis     (E. canis) infection, 95.7% of which were serologically positive for E. canis antibody. The results also indicate that 54.9% of dogs have E. canis morulae in monocytes and/or neutrophils. Statistical analysis reveals that the prevalence of E. canis infection in dogs is not affected by breed, gender or age. The clinical symptoms of infected dogs are very complex, including fever, abortion, joint pain, breast tumours, short breathing, nasal haemorrhage, weakness, pale mucosa, skin inflammation, hair loss around the eyes, eye discharges, cloudy eyes, refuging to eat, diarrhoea, belly skin haemorrhage, anorexia, constipation, ascites, vomiting, depression, salivation, and metritis. About 37.9% of dogs are serologically infected with Ehrlichia canis with various symptoms.