Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Heart injury marker levels in dogs with ehrlichiosis
By Diniz, P P V P et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2008·College of Veterinary Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Serum cardiac troponin I concentration in dogs with ehrlichiosis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs in Brazil with ehrlichiosis, a disease caused by a tick-borne infection, showed signs of heart muscle injury. The study found that dogs infected with Ehrlichia canis had higher levels of a specific protein in their blood, indicating damage to the heart, compared to healthy dogs. Additionally, those with severe anemia or systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) were at an even greater risk for heart issues. This highlights the importance of monitoring heart health in dogs diagnosed with ehrlichiosis, especially if they show other symptoms like weakness or lethargy.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Ehrlichiosis is a multisystemic disease with the potential to cause cardiomyocyte injury in naturally infected dogs. HYPOTHESIS: Myocardial injury occurs in dogs infected with Ehrlichia canis. ANIMALS: One-hundred and ninety-four dogs from Brazil with clinical and laboratory abnormalities indicative of ehrlichiosis. Sixteen healthy dogs served as controls. METHODS: Electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, noninvasive blood pressure measurement, and serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations were evaluated. Serologic assays and PCR determined the exposure and infection status for E. canis, Anaplasma spp., Babesia canis vogeli, Bartonella spp., Borrelia burgdorferi, Dirofilaria immitis, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia ewingii, Leishmania chagasi, and spotted-fever group Rickettsia. Dogs were assigned to groups according to PCR status: E. canis infected, infected with other vector-borne organisms, sick dogs lacking PCR evidence for infection, and healthy controls. RESULTS: E. canis-infected dogs had higher serum cTnI concentrations than controls (median: 0.04 ng/dL; range 0.04-9.12 ng/dL; control median: 0.04 ng/dL; range: 0.04-0.10 ng/dL; P= .012), and acute E. canis infection was associated with myocardial injury (odds ratio [OR]: 2.67, confidence interval [CI] 95%: 1.12-6.40, P= .027). Severity of anemia was correlated with increased risk of cardiomyocyte damage (r= 0.84, P< .001). Dogs with clinical signs of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) were at higher risk for myocardial injury than were other sick dogs (OR: 2.55, CI 95%: 1.31-4.95, P= .005). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Acute infection with E. canis is a risk factor for myocardial injury in naturally infected Brazilian dogs. Severity of anemia and SIRS might contribute to the pathophysiology of myocardial damage.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18638021/