Frequência de ehrlichia canis identificadas em cães na cidade de Jataí/GO

Canine ehrlichiosis is an infectious disease that affects mainly dogs caused by Gram-negative bacteria of the genus Ehrlichia and Anaplasma, strictly intracellular, transmitted by the Rhipicephalus sanguineus parasites. Clinical signs and laboratory findings are variable. We evaluated hematological samples of 356 dogs, of which in 25 stained blood smears were observed blood inclusions mostly in mononuclear cells and rarely in polymorphonuclear. This study aimed to determine the frequency of infection by E. canis in pet dogs, in Jatai, GO, from August 2012 to July 2013. The samples were analyzed in the Veterinary Clinical Laboratory of the Universidade Federal de Goias in Jatai in that period. The 356 whole blood samples with 10% EDTA collected from dogs, regardless of breed, gender and age, were used to prepare the blood smears and papa leukocyte, following the Panoptic kit technique. Intra-leukocyte morula of E. canis and inclusions of Anaplasma platys intra-platelets were observed in thin blood smears or papa leukocytes in leukopenic dogs. From the 356 slides, 25 were positive for Ehrlichia canis (7.02%) while 20 were positive for Anaplasma platys (5.62%). This study confirmed that canine ehrlichiosis is a disease of great importance in the clinic of small animals. The frequency of canine ehrlichiosis in blood smears of dogs in Jatai was 7.02%. Since the disease is transmitted by the tick that parasitizes mainly dogs, management and control measures should be intensified.