Survey of Ehrlichia canis antibodies among dogs in Israel

A seroepidemiological survey was made of the prevalence of antibodies reactive with Ehrlichia canis in stray and pet dogs from five geographical regions of Israel. Serum samples from 410 dogs were assayed by an indirect fluorescent antibody test and serum reactive at a 1:20 dilution or greater was considered positive. The overall seroprevalence was 30 per cent with 23.9 per cent in pet dogs and 37.5 per cent in stray dogs. The seroprevalence in apparently healthy pets (17.6 per cent) was lower but did not differ significantly from the seroprevalence in sick animals (26.6 per cent). The seroprevalence was highest in the north of Israel and lowest in the central hilly area, and followed the same trend in both the populations sampled. Young dogs (under one year old) had a lower seroprevalence (14.9 per cent) than adult (one to eight years) (36.4 per cent) or older dogs (over eight years) (34.2 per cent). The results demonstrate that dogs in Israel are extensively exposed to E canis and indicate that ehrlichiosis is endemic in this area of the Middle East.

Hepatozoon canis: the prevalence of antibodies and gametocytes in dogs in Israel

A survey for the prevalence of antibodies to Hepatozoon canis and for intraneutrophilic H. canis gametocytes in the peripheral blood neutrophils of dogs in Israel showed that 33.1% were seropositive, while only 1% of the dogs sampled had detectable parasites in their blood smears. Exposure to H. canis is widespread but it appears that most infected dogs undergo a subclinical infection and only a small proportion develop clinical disease.

Hepatozoon canis infection in two dogs

Infection of 60 to 90% of neutrophils with the protozoa, Hepatozoon canis, was detected in 2 dogs. Clinical signs included lethargy, anorexia, and weight loss. Both dogs had severe anemia, leukocytosis, and thrombocytopenia as well as hypoalbuminemia, hyperglobulinemia, and high activities of serum alkaline phosphatase and creatine kinase. Both dogs were treated with imidocarb dipropionate and doxycycline. One dog recovered clinically, with disappearance of parasites from WBC. The other dog died, despite treatment. Necropsy revealed widespread dispersion of schizonts in the parenchymal tissues, but no involvement of skeletal muscle tissues. The disease syndrome that has been identified in the Texas Gulf region is characterized by gait abnormalities associated with multifocal pyogranulomatous myositis, thus, it is distinct clinicopathologically from the syndrome observed in these 2 dogs.