Monoclonal gammopathy associated with naturally occurring canine ehrlichiosis

Abstract

Clinical, hematologic, and immunologic findings for 14 dogs with Ehrlichia canis monoclonal gammopathy were studied retrospectively. Epistaxis, anemia, thrombocytopenia, hypoalbuminemia, hypergammaglobulinemia, and proteinuria were documented in the majority of these dogs. The serum protein electrophoresis pattern was characterized by a distinct narrow-base monoclonal spike, by a broad-base monoclonal spike, or by a monoclonal spike superimposed on a polyclonal gammopathy. The monoclonal spike disappeared following tetracycline treatment for ehrlichiosis. The long-term prognosis following treatment was generally good. The diagnostic features of monoclonal gammopathy due to myeloma were compared with those of E. canis monoclonal gammopathy. Owing to numerous similarities in clinical, hematologic, and immunologic findings, we conclude that an E. canis antibody titer should be determined in all dogs in which a diagnosis of benign monoclonal gammopathy is contemplated or definitive evidence of myeloma, leukemia, or macroglobulinemia is lacking.