Jr. Frank et Eb. Breitschwerdt, A retrospective study of ehrlichiosis in 62 dogs from North Carolina and Virginia, J VET INT M, 13(3), 1999, pp. 194-201
The purpose of this retrospective study is to report the clinical signs, cl
inicopathological findings, and response to therapy of 62 dogs from North C
arolina and Virginia. Ehrlichiosis was diagnosed in all of these dogs, and
previous retrospective studies of ehrlichiosis in dogs were used as a basis
for comparison. In this study, the clinical signs commonly associated with
ehrlichiosis were observed less frequently than in earlier studies, althou
gh previously reported laboratory abnormalities were similar Flow cytometry
revealed an inverted CD4:CD8 ratio in 3 of 4 dogs tested. This finding is
suggestive of potential immune dysregulation that could predispose infected
dogs to additional disease processes. Concurrent diseases were frequently
reported and often contributed to death. Response to therapy was variable,
with timely, complete recovery reported in only 27% of dogs; a slow, gradua
l, but complete recovery in 18% of dogs; an incomplete treatment response i
n 25% of dogs; and a presumed treatment failure in 16% of dogs.