ERLICHIOSE CANINA: UMA REVISÃO DE LITERATURA

Abstract

The present study is based on a review, with the purpose of having greater knowledge about the obligate intracellular infectious disease, caused by the gram-negative bacterium Ehrlichia canis. Ehrlichiosis is a very recurrent hemoparasitosis in veterinary clinics, among the most serious, causing serious damage to canine health. Transmission of E. canis occurs during blood feeding by nymphs and/or adults of the brown tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus, which is the vector and reservoir of the etiological agent. Diagnosis is based on clinical examination, complete blood count, PCR test, IFA and ear tip smear cytology. Treatment is with tetracycline antibiotics, the most common being doxycycline, with a treatment duration of 28 days, using a dose of 10 mg/kg at intervals of 12 or 24 hours.