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Writer's pictureDr Andrew Matole, BVetMed, MSc

Nairobi Bleeding Disease (Ehrlichiosis ) in Dogs and Cats

Updated: Jun 22, 2021


What is Nairobi Bleeding Disease (Ehrlichiosis)?

 
The Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineous)

Nairobi Bleeding Disease (Ehrlichiosis) is a tick-borne infectious disease of dogs. The organism responsible for this disease is a rickettsial organism (Ehrlichia canis), usually carried by the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineous).





Ehrlichia canis © 2020 Elanco

Rickettsial organisms are specialized type of bacteria that live only inside other cells. The disease seems to be particularly severe in German Shepherd Dogs and Doberman Pinschers.





How is a dog infected with Ehrlichia?

 
Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineous)

Ehrlichiosis is a disease that develops in dogs after being bitten by an infected tick, the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineous) found throughout warm and temperate regions.


The brown dog tick is the main carrier of the Ehrlichia organism in nature. Other tick species, have also been shown to transmit the disease in dogs and may carry other subspecies of Ehrlichia.


What are the signs of Nairobi Bleeding Disease (ehrlichiosis)?

 

Clinical signs of ehrlichiosis are divided into three stages:

  1. Acute (early disease),

  2. Sub-clinical (no outward signs of disease), and

  3. Clinical or chronic (long-standing infection).

The Acute Phase

The infected dogs may have:-

  • Fever,

  • Swollen lymph nodes,

  • Respiratory distress,

  • Weight loss,

  • Bleeding disorders (spontaneous haemorrhage or bleeding), and

  • Occasionally, neurological disturbances (they may seem unsteady or develop meningitis).

This stage may last two to four weeks and some dogs may eliminate the infection or head into the sub-clinical phase.

The sub-clinical phase

In this stage of infection, the organism is present but causes no outward signs of disease. The dog may develop changes observed at the laboratory level, yet have no apparent signs of illness. The sub-clinical phase is the worst phase because there are no clinical signs and the disease goes undetected. A blood sample is the only thing that may show that a dog is infected during this phase, or when the dog shows prolonged bleeding from a puncture site. Dogs that are sub-clinical may eliminate the organisms or may progress to the next stage, clinical ehrlichiosis.

Clinical ehrlichiosis phase

This phase occurs when the immune system is not unable to eliminate the organism. The dogs then develop a host of problems:

  • Anaemia,

  • Bleeding episodes,

  • Lameness,

  • Eye problems (including haemorrhage into the eyes or blindness),

  • Neurological problems, and

  • Swollen limbs.

  • The bone marrow (site of blood cell production) fails, the dog becomes unable to manufacture any of the blood cells necessary to sustain life (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets).


How is Nairobi Bleeding Disease (ehrlichiosis) diagnosed?

 

It is difficult to diagnose infected dogs during the very early stages of infection. The immune system usually takes two to three weeks to respond to the presence of the organism and develop antibodies.

The tests used to diagnose ehrlichiosis are:-

  • ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) test

  • IFA (indirect fluorescent antibody) test

  • Baseline blood tests including a complete blood cell count (haematology) and biochemistry are also done. A low platelet count (called thrombocytopenia), anaemia (low red blood cell counts), and/or high levels of the protein globulin in the blood may be found.



How is Nairobi Bleeding Disease (ehrlichiosis) treated?

 

Dogs experiencing severe anaemia or bleeding problems may require a blood transfusion. However, this does nothing to treat the underlying disease.






Antibiotics, such as doxycycline, are quite effective. A long course of treatment, generally three weeks, is needed. This is the treatment of choice as it is easily accessible and generally well tolerated.




Alternatively, imidocarb (Imizol) can be used.








Some supportive medications such as steroids, eg. prednisolone, may be needed depending on the clinical state of the patient and blood parameters.



How is Nairobi Bleeding Disease (ehrlichiosis) prevented?

 

Managing the dog's environment against ticks and applying flea and tick preventives are the most effective means of prevention.


Topical options include Advantix and Frontline Plus (given once per month) or Bravecto (given once every 3 months).

Oral chewable options include Nexgard (given monthly), Simparica (given monthly), or Bravecto (given every 3 months).


Can Nairobi Bleeding Disease (ehrlichiosis) be transmitted to humans?

 

No. However, humans can get canine ehrlichiosis from tick bites. The disease is only transmitted through the bites of ticks. Therefore, even though the disease is not transmitted directly from dogs to humans, infected dogs serve as sentinels, or warnings to indicate the presence of infected ticks in the area.

References

 

Harrus S & Waner T (2011) Diagnosis of canine monocytotropic ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis): an overview. Veterinary J 187 (3), 292-296 PubMed.


Little S E (2010) Ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis in dogs and cats. Vet Clin Small Anim Pract 40(6),1121-1140 PubMed.


Murphy K & Shaw S (2004) Disease risks for the travelling pet: Ehrlichiosis. In Practice 26 (9), 493-497 VetMedResource.


Egenvall A, Lilliehook et al (2000) Detection of granulocytic Ehrlichia species DNA by PCR in persistently infected dogs. Vet Rec 146 (7), 186-190 PubMed.


Suksawat J et al (2000) Seroprevalence of Ehrlichia canis, Ehrlichia equi and Ehrlichia risticii in sick dogs from North Carolina and Virginia. J Vet Intern Med 14 (1), 50-5 PubMed.


Harrus S & Hylton B (1997) Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis - An Update. Comp Cont Educ Pract Vet 19 (4), 431-444.


Companion vector-borne diseases: www.cvbd.org/static/documents/digest/CVBD_Easy-to-digest_no_7_ehrlichiosis.pdf


European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites: www.esccap.org/uploads/docs/znkh6j1d_0775_ESCCAP_Guideline_GL5_v8_1p.pdf

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