Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Severe Ehrlichia and Toxoplasma infection in a dog with blood
By Sandu, Ioana et al.·Published in Veterinary medicine and science·2025·Department of Parasitology - Parasitic Diseases and Animal Biology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A Severe Clinical Case of Ehrlichia canis and Toxoplasma gondii in a Dog (With the First Morphological Detection of Tachyzoites in Peripheral Blood).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old female mixed-breed dog was brought to the vet showing signs of neurological issues, difficulty breathing, extreme tiredness, and not wanting to eat. The vet found multiple ticks on her and ran tests that showed she had infections from both Ehrlichia canis and Toxoplasma gondii, which are diseases spread by ticks and can cause serious health problems. Unfortunately, this case highlights a severe co-infection that can be fatal. Treatment options for such infections typically include antibiotics and supportive care, but the outcome can be serious depending on the severity of the infections.
People also search for: dog breathing problems · dog lethargy and not eating · tick-borne diseases in dogs · Ehrlichia canis treatment · Toxoplasma gondii in dogs
Abstract
Vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) are frequently identified in domestic dogs, particularly in endemic areas or in individuals lacking protection from anti-feeding products. Diagnostic procedures in veterinary clinics for symptomatic animals primarily include rapid serological assays; however, more definitive, albeit time-intensive tests typically require well-equipped laboratory facilities. A 5-year-old female mixed-breed dog was presented to a veterinary clinic exhibiting neurological abnormalities, dyspnoea, lethargy and anorexia. Multiple ticks, predominantly of the genera Rhipicephalus and Dermacentor, were observed attached to the animal's integument. A blood smear examination revealed tachyzoites morphologically consistent with Toxoplasma spp. and intracellular morulae indicative of Ehrlichia canis infections. These findings were subsequently confirmed via polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This report documents a rare and fatal canine co-infection of ehrlichiosis and toxoplasmosis, initially diagnosed through microscopic examination and serology, with definitive confirmation achieved through PCR analysis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40328691/