Ehrlichia canis - Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) spread by Rhipicephalus sanguineus
ticks is a chronic infection and even following therapy (Doxycycline 5-10mg/kg every 12 hours
for 21 days for dogs), antibodies may persist for prolonged periods of time (6 months or longer).
The acute and chronic stages of CME can be detected clinically; dogs appear ill and develop
clinical, hematological and biochemical abnormalities. The subclinical stage of CME, lasting
months to years, is not associated with clinical signs of illness and therefore may go unnoticed
by pet owners and undiagnosed by veterinarians unless antibodies are detected during annual
screening with in-clinical kits. E.canis or E.canis-like infections in humans and cats have been
rarely detected.