EHRLICHIOSIS IN ONE YEARS OLD MALE DOMESTIC CROSSBREED DOG

Abstract

Ehrlichiosis is a disease in dogs caused by the Ehrlichia sp bacteria and attacks all ages and breeds. Ehrlichia sp. is an obligate intracellular bacterium. The purpose of writing this case report is to discuss the incidence of ehrlichiosis in domestic crossbreed dogs. The animal case is a domestic crossbreed dog, male, named Beleki, one year old with a body weight of 10.9 kg examined at the Veterinary Internal Medicine Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Udayana University with complaints that the dog experienced itching, hair loss, and tick infestation. The results of a clinical examination of the skin found many Riphicephalus sanguineus ticks spread from the neck to the back, there were crusts and small wounds caused by tick bites and the oral mucosa looked pale. Routine hematological examination showed that the dog had hypochromic microcytic anemia, leukopenia, lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia. On blood smear examination, intracytoplasmic inclusions (morula) were found in neutrophils. Serological examination using an antibody test kit showed positive results for Ehrlichia sp., so the dog was diagnosed as suffering from ehrlichiosis. Treatment is carried out by subcutaneous administration of ivermectin (0.3 mg/kg BW), and the antibiotic Doxycycline at a dose of 10 mg/kg BW every 24 hours orally (PO) given for 28 days. Supportive therapy to treat anemia uses Sangobion^® hematopoietic supplementation one capsule per day PO for 10 days. The dog case experienced a significant decline in condition on the ninth day and was declared dead on the 12th day. Death occurs due to disorders of the digestive system and is exacerbated by thrombocytopenia, leukopenia and anemia. It is best to immediately carry out an early examination of dogs that have tick infestations on their bodies and clean the rearing environment using disinfectant to avoid transmission of ticks to dogs.