Coinfection of anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis: Case report

Abstract

The ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis’ co-infection is awfully common to the clinical routine of small animals. They’re mainly transmitted by the Rhipicephalus sanguineous tick and induce severe clinical symptoms, which are deadly able to lead specific animals to their death. A dog of the Labrador Breed was cared with 1.6-years-old male, weighing 30 kg and residing in Codó City, State of Maranhão, Brazil. In the anamnesis, it was reported that the dog was apathetic and without eat for few days, showing signs of weight loss and reddish spots. On clinical examination, the animal presented hyperthermia, pale and ocular mucous membranes, lethargic ineptitude, 8% of dehydration and capillary filling time greater than 5 seconds. Nevertheless, the animal doesn’t showed changes in the heart rate, breathing movements and lymph nodes. For diagnosis, a rapid test was performed for Anaplasma and Ehrlichia in which were positive. Complete blood count, hepatic and renal serum biochemistry and urinalysis were also applied. The laboratory exams’ results were suggestive for the diagnosis of co-infection by Anaplasma spp. and Ehrlichia spp, confirming the rapid test results. After diagnosis, supportive treatment with fluid therapy, B complex, dexamethasone, doxicillin and iminocard was started. The treatment was efficient. Therefore, the animal was clinically healthy after 25 days of treatment.