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| August • 2002 |
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| EHRLICHIA UPDATE (CONT'D) |
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- Prevention
In endemic areas, strict tick control programs should be implemented for dogs and premises. Routine
serologic screening of healthy dogs is generally not recommended, nor is treatment advisable for
healthy seropositive, PCR negative dogs because of the potential for adverse effects and development
of antimicrobial resistance. For introducing new dogs to an Ehrlichia spp. negative kennel, screening
them by IFA is advised so that any seropositive dog can be treated with doxycycline as a precaution,
before joining the rest.
There is minimal zoonotic risk for direct transmission of Ehrlichia spp. from dogs or cats to people.
Dogs carrying infected ticks in endemic regions, however, could act as a reservoir host for transmission
to people.
[Excerpted from the ACVIM Consensus Statement from the Infectious Disease Study
Group, Neer, et. al, J Vet Int Med 16:309-315, 2002; with permission]
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| Summary of Commonly Used Ehrlichia Tests* |
| Test |
Test Code |
Sample Requirements |
Comments |
| Ehrlichia canis IFA |
T570 |
Serum: ¼ mL minimum |
Detects antibodies against E. canis. <1:20 is negative titer, >1:80
is positive titer, titers between 1:20 and 1:80 are considered suspect. Single positive titer
indicates exposure, not necessarily current infection. Demonstrating 4-fold rising titers in
serum collected 3-4 weeks apart indicates acute infection. The E. canis IFA test does not
cross-react with E. equi or E. risticii, but some cross-reaction occurs with E. ewingii
(~40% of E. ewingii-infected dogs will have positive E. canis IFA tests). |
| Ehrlichia risticii IFA |
A16270 |
Serum: 1mL minimum |
Detects antibodies against E. risticii. Single positive titer indicates exposure,
not necessarily current infection. Demonstrating 4-fold rising titer in serum collected
3-4 weeks apart indicates acute infection. |
| Ehrlichia equi IFA |
S16872 |
Serum: 1mL minimum |
Detects antibodies against E. equi. Single positive titer indicates exposure, not
necessarily current infection. Demonstrating 4-fold rising titer in serum collected
3-4 weeks apart indicates acute infection. |
| Ehrlichia spp. PCR |
7002 |
Whole blood in LTT, synovial fluid or CSF in LTT or RTT, splenic aspirate in LTT; ½ mL minimum |
This is a "pan" ehrlichia PCR test and will detect infection with a variety of ehrlichia species.
If the test is positive, the organism will be speciated to E. canis, E. ewingii, E. equi, or
E. risticii. A positive PCR test indicates current infection with ehrlichia and treatment is warranted. |
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| LTT, Lavender top tube (EDTA); RTT, Red top tube (serum) |
* Other Ehrlichia spp. can also be measured (call Lab) |
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