Clinical relevance of serologic testing in canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis)

被引:0
作者
Mylonakis, M. E. [1 ]
Koutinas, A. F. [1 ]
Theodorou, K. [1 ]
Siarkou, V., I [2 ]
Kontos, V. I. [3 ]
机构
[1] Aristotle Univ Thessaloniki, Fac Vet Med, Compan Anim Clin, Thessaloniki, Greece
[2] Aristotle Univ Thessaloniki, Fac Vet Med, Lab Microbiol & Infect Dis, Thessaloniki, Greece
[3] Natl Sch Publ Hlth, Dept Vet Publ Hlth, Athens, Greece
来源
JOURNAL OF THE HELLENIC VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY | 2012年 / 63卷 / 02期
关键词
Ehrlichia canis; dog; serology; interpretation; diagnosis; FLUORESCENT-ANTIBODY TEST; LINKED-IMMUNOSORBENT-ASSAY; INDIRECT IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE; SUBCLINICAL PHASE; DOGS; DIAGNOSIS; INFECTION; KINETICS; ELISA; PROTEINS;
D O I
暂无
中图分类号
S85 [动物医学(兽医学)];
学科分类号
0906 ;
摘要
Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) is primarily caused by Ehrlichia canis, a member of the genus Ehrlichia (family: Anaplasmataceae). Serology is the most frequently used diagnostic modality in CME. Indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) testing remains the "gold standard" for the detection and titration of the E. canis-specific antibodies; in addition, several user-friendly, in-clinic assays have recently gained tremendous popularity due to their practical and cost-effective nature. The latter assays provide mostly qualitative results and have a high diagnostic specificity; however, their sensitivity usually declines when the IFA-titers are lower than 1/320, suggesting a suboptimal performance in acutely infected dogs. Overall, a positive IgG antibody titer indicates past exposure to and infection by Ehrlichia canis or a closely related agent (e.g. E. chaffeensis, E. ewingii), while rarely, true false positives may adversely affect the interpretation. As a rule, a negative IgG antibody titer rules out exposure to E. canis, with the notable exception of the acute CME in which clinical and clinicopathological manifestations may preceed seroconversion which occurs 7-35 days post-infection. The latter problem may be overcome by testing paired serum samples obtained 2-3 weeks apart. Unlike IgG antibodies, IgM titers develop inconsistently in the course of the infection, thus, not justifying their routine measurement for diagnostic purposes. Importantly, IgG antibody titers do not reliably correlate with the duration of infection, the current carrier status, or the presence and severity of clinical disease. Because of the prolonged latent period and the persistent seropositivity following therapy or self-eradication of the infection, clinicians should be well aware that seroreactivity to E. canis, especially in an endemic area, does not unequivocally confirm that the clinical manifestations and the clinicopathological abnormalities are due to E. canis infection. The decision to treat a clinically healthy, seropositive dog may be particularly challenging, especially in endemic areas. A positive or negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) result dictates towards or against treatment, respectively. If PCR is not available, the proper course of action should be decided on a case-by-case basis. The authors suggest treating these dogs if they are thrombocytopenic and/or hyperglobulinemic and no other potential causes of these abnormalities (e.g. pseudothrombocytopenia and/or comorbid conditions) can be demonstrated. The antibody kinetics is quite unpredictable, frequently persisting several months to years following eradication of the organism, which limits the value of serology as a post-treatment monitoring tool. This review article addresses a series of questions pertaining to the interpretation of E. canis-specific serology in the context of the clinical phase of the disease, the antibody kinetics, the sensitivity and specificity of the assays and the prior treatment status. The ultimate goal is to facilitate the clinical decision-making towards the diagnosis and post-treatment monitoring of the CME.
引用
收藏
页码:127 / 134
页数:8
相关论文
共 50 条
  • [31] Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis in Buenos Aires, Argentina: comparison of serological and molecular assays
    Martin, Paula L.
    De Salvo, Maria N.
    Cicuttin, Gabriel L.
    Arauz, Maria S.
    [J]. PESQUISA VETERINARIA BRASILEIRA, 2019, 39 (08): : 649 - 654
  • [32] Cytologic patterns of lymphadenopathy in canine monocytic ehrlichiosis
    Mylonakis, Mathios E.
    Borjesson, Dori L.
    Leontides, Leonidas
    Siarkou, Victoria I.
    Theodorou, Konstantina
    Koutinas, Alexander F.
    [J]. VETERINARY CLINICAL PATHOLOGY, 2011, 40 (01) : 78 - 83
  • [33] Detection of Ehrlichia canis by PCR in different tissues obtained during necropsy from dogs surveyed for naturally occurring canine monocytic ehrlichiosis
    Gal, Arnon
    Loeb, Emmanuel
    Yisaschar-Mekuzas, Yael
    Baneth, Gad
    [J]. VETERINARY JOURNAL, 2008, 175 (02) : 212 - 217
  • [34] Seroepidemiological Research of Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Serbia
    Potkonjak, Aleksandar
    Savic, Sara
    Jurisic, Aleksandar
    Petrovic, Aleksandra
    Suvajdzic, Ljiljana
    Lako, Bjanka
    Milosevic, Nikolina
    Novakovic, Zorica
    [J]. ACTA SCIENTIAE VETERINARIAE, 2013, 41
  • [35] THE SPREAD OF CANINE MONOCYTIC EHRLICHIOSIS IN TURKEY TO CENTRAL ANATOLIA
    Yagci, B. B.
    Yasa, Duru S.
    Yildiz, K.
    Ocal, N.
    Gazyagci, A. N.
    [J]. ISRAEL JOURNAL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE, 2010, 65 (01): : 15 - 18
  • [36] Demonstrating the presence of Ehrlichia canis DNA from different tissues of dogs with suspected subclinical ehrlichiosis
    Rodriguez-Alarcon, Carlos A.
    Beristain-Ruiz, Diana M.
    Olivares-Munoz, Angelica
    Quezada-Casasola, Andres
    Perez-Casio, Federico
    Alvarez-Martinez, Jesus A.
    Tapia-Alanis, Jane
    Lira-Amaya, Jose J.
    Rivera-Barreno, Ramon
    Cera-Hurtado, Orlando S.
    Ibancovichi-Camarillo, Jose A.
    Soon-Gomez, Luis
    Adame-Gallegos, Jaime R.
    Figueroa-Millan, Julio V.
    [J]. PARASITES & VECTORS, 2020, 13 (01)
  • [37] Current management of human granulocytic anaplasmosis, human monocytic ehrlichiosis and Ehrlichia ewingii ehrlichiosis
    Thomas, Rachael J.
    Dumler, J. Stephen
    Carlyon, Jason A.
    [J]. EXPERT REVIEW OF ANTI-INFECTIVE THERAPY, 2009, 7 (06) : 709 - 722
  • [38] Comparative Evaluation of the Vector Competence of Four South American Populations of the Rhipicephalus sanguineus Group for the Bacterium Ehrlichia canis, the Agent of Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis
    Moraes-Filho, Jonas
    Krawczak, Felipe S.
    Costa, Francisco B.
    Soares, Joao Fabio
    Labruna, Marcelo B.
    [J]. PLOS ONE, 2015, 10 (09):
  • [39] Retrospective analysis of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis in Thailand with emphasis on hematological and ultrasonographic changes
    Angkanaporn, Kris
    Sanguanwai, Jidapha
    Baiyokvichit, Taratip O.
    Vorrachotvarittorn, Pichamon
    Wongsompong, Montana
    Sukhumavasi, Woraporn
    [J]. VETERINARY WORLD, 2022, 15 (01) : 1 - 9
  • [40] Anti-Hepatozoon canis serum antibodies and gamonts in naturally-occurring canine monocytic ehrlichiosis
    Mylonakis, ME
    Leontides, L
    Gonen, L
    Billinis, C
    Koutinas, AF
    Baneth, G
    [J]. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY, 2005, 129 (3-4) : 229 - 233