Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Serum DHEA-S hormone rises in dogs with Ehrlichia canis infection
By Rondelli, M C H et al.·Published in Research in veterinary science·2015·Department of Veterinary Clinic and Surgery, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Serum DHEA-S increases in dogs naturally infected with Ehrlichia canis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs naturally infected with Ehrlichia canis, a tick-borne disease, showed higher levels of a hormone called DHEA-S, which is linked to stress. Researchers tested 21 sick dogs and found that their DHEA-S levels were significantly elevated compared to 10 healthy dogs. This suggests that the infection causes stress and hormonal changes in affected dogs. If your dog has been diagnosed with ehrlichiosis, it’s important to monitor their health closely and discuss any concerns with your veterinarian.
People also search for: dog ehrlichiosis symptoms · dog stress hormone levels · treatment for Ehrlichia canis in dogs
Abstract
Adrenocortical disturbances are expected in canine ehrlichiosis due to the immunological challenges caused by infection and consequent inflammation. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of adrenocortical hormonal alterations in dogs naturally infected with Ehrlichia canis (n = 21) as positively confirmed by the presence of anti-E. canis antibodies (Dot-ELISA) and nested PCR (nPCR). Serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) concentrations were assessed via ELISA before and one hour after ACTH stimulation. Another 10 healthy dogs were subjected to the same stimulation protocol and used as controls. The results revealed that baseline and post-ACTH DHEA-S concentrations were significantly greater in sick dogs, regardless of gender, and this finding illustrates the stress induced by naturally acquired ehrlichiosis in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25956636/