Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Ehrlichia canis infection found in 54% of dogs in central Namibia
By Manyarara, Rutendo et al.·Published in Journal of the South African Veterinary Association·2015·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Serodetection of Ehrlichia canis amongst dogs in central Namibia.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 106 dogs in central Namibia was tested for a tick-borne disease called Ehrlichia canis, which can cause serious health issues. The study found that over half of the dogs tested were positive for the infection, with a much higher rate (86.6%) in dogs showing symptoms like fever or lethargy compared to healthy dogs (41.6%). Most of the infected dogs were from lower-income areas, suggesting that living conditions may play a role in exposure. This research highlights the importance of monitoring and treating this disease in dogs, especially in regions where it has not been previously reported.
People also search for: dog tick disease symptoms · Ehrlichia canis treatment for dogs · why is my dog lethargic in Namibia
Abstract
Ehrlichia canis is a major pathogen in dogs throughout Africa, yet it has not been reported in Namibia. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of canine ehrlichiosis in central Namibia using the ImmunoComb assay (Biogal, Galed Laboratories). The study included 76 dogs that presented to the Rhino Park Veterinary Clinic in the north-western suburb of Khomasdal, Windhoek, Namibia, as well as 30 stray dogs from the Windhoek branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Of the 106 dogs tested, 53.8% were seropositive at titres > 1:80. Dogs that presented with symptoms of E. canis infection had a significantly higher seroprevalence (86.6%) compared with apparently healthy dogs (41.6%) (P = 0.00). Location of habitation was significant (P < 0.017), with a high percentage of dogs exposed to E. canis living in the northern or north-western part of Windhoek. As the first study to serologically establish E. canis as a major pathogen in dogs in central Namibia, it is notable that the highest proportion of seropositive dogs came from low-income areas. Further investigation is necessary to describe the ecology of this important tick-borne pathogen of companion animals in Namibia.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26244587/