Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis is a worldwide tick borne disease. In dogs, it is usually caused by Ehrlichia canis, gram-negative obligatory intracellular bacteria. Clinical signs, haemato-biochemical alterations and microscopical examination of blood smears were conducted in 60 different breeds of dogs of either sex presented to the Veterinary Clinical Complex, West Bengal University of Animal & Fishery Sciences, Kolkata between March and June 2019. The majority of dogs were presented with anorexia, pronounced lethargy, high rise of temperature and generalized lymphadenopathy. Morulae of Ehrlichia canis were found in blood smears from 12 dogs. The highest prevalence was found in Labrador. Many of the dogs had tick infestation and the ticks on dogs were identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus. The most common haemato-biochemical alterations were marked anaemia, leukocytosis, erythropaenia, thrombocytopaenia, neutrophillia, lymphopaenia and eosinophilia followed by hyperproteinaemia, hypoalbuminaemia, hyperglobulinaemia, hyperbilirubinaemia, elevated activities of AST, ALT and ALKP, decreased increased BUN and creatinine levels. Majority of the dogs reflected a rapid clinical response to doxycycline along with supportive therapy. | Clinicopathological study of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis in Kolkata, India
