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Review
. 2015 Feb 4:8:75.
doi: 10.1186/s13071-015-0649-0.

Guideline for veterinary practitioners on canine ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis in Europe

Ángel Sainz  1 , Xavier Roura  2 , Guadalupe Miró  3 , Agustín Estrada-Peña  4 , Barbara Kohn  5 , Shimon Harrus  6 , Laia Solano-Gallego  7
Affiliations
Review

Guideline for veterinary practitioners on canine ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis in Europe

Ángel Sainz et al. Parasit Vectors. .

Abstract

Canine ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis are important tick-borne diseases with a worldwide distribution. Information has been continuously collected on these infections in Europe, and publications have increased in recent years. Prevalence rates are high for Ehrlichia and Anaplasma spp. infections in dogs from different European countries. The goal of this article was to provide a practical guideline for veterinary practitioners on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis in dogs from Europe. This guideline is intended to answer the most common questions on these diseases from a practical point of view.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of Ixodes ricinus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus in Europe. The reported distribution of I. ricinus was officially recorded by the European Center for Disease Control (ECDC) in January, 2014 (red areas). The map includes only records with reliable, accurate data that can be ascribed to one of the NUTS (statistical regions of Europe). Many reports in the literature only mention the presence of one species in a country. Some of the areas in the Mediterranean region might be based on identified collections that do not have permanent populations (i.e., casual introduction without further survival) or based on small areas of suitability. The line shows the northern range of the distribution of ticks that belong to the R. sanguineus complex. Due to the confusion surrounding the morphology and systematics of this complex group, many records cannot be confidently tracked as “true” R. sanguineus. This northern limit is also an educated guess for the current distribution, because persistent populations may live in northern latitudes, protected in shelters, burrows, or private gardens, where adequate conditions for survival may exist.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Microscopic image of a morula of Ehrlichia canis in the cytoplasm of a monocyte (x100).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Microscopic image of a morula of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in the cytoplasm of a neutrophil (x100).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Microscopic image of a morula of Anaplasma platys in a platelet (x100).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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