Ehrlichia canis infections on the island of Aruba

Abstract

During a ten week period dogs in Aruba were examined for Ehrlichia canis infections. These were dogs that came to the veterinary clinic as well as neglected dogs in the kennel of the veterinary services. The clinical signs were described, ticks were removed, a blood sample was taken and the dog owners filled in a questionnaire. This way a database of the dog population infected with Ehrlichia canis was made and the problem of canine ehrlichiosis on the island of Aruba was surveyed. Most common clinical sign was pale mucous membranes, but lethargy, emaciation and fever were also often seen. The clinical signs are however non-specific and in the participating dogs there seems to be no relation between the clinical signs and being actually infected. The hematocrit was determined for 87 dogs in the veterinary clinic. Sixty-three of these dogs turned out to be anemic (72%). In the kennel of the veterinary 31 of the 32 dogs (97%) turned out to be anemic. The Snap 4Dx test was performed on 59 dogs in the veterinary clinic, with a positive test result for Ehrlichia canis for 36 dogs (61%). For heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis), Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia Burgdorferi this was respectively 27%, 27% and 0%. An examination of the buffycoat smears was performed. In dogs from the veterinary clinic, in 11 of 86 (13%) morulae were found. In the dogs from the kennel of the veterinary services this was 6 of 32 (19%). The high prevalence of E.canis and heartworm form a potential risk of importing these diseases into the Netherlands. More research is required on the tick-borne diseases on Aruba and on the ticks that were sent to the Netherlands.