Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis - From pathology to clinical manifestations

Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) caused by Ehrlichia canis is a multisystemic tick-borne disease. The ubiquity of the rickettsia throughout the body organs leads to its involvement in the pathology of organs. The induced profound lymphoplasmacytosis of all parenchymal organs and the bleeding tendencies in all body systems, results in a great variety of clinical signs. This review sets out to present the pathological changes associated with CME, and in so doing attempts to correlate them with clinical manifestations and broaden their scope for the awareness and benefit of the practicing veterinarian. Understanding of this concept may result in an increased inclusion of CME in the differential diagnoses of many organ related problems. This approach may result in the improvement of the diagnosis of CME and consequently the initiation of a specific treatment at an early stage with an improved prospect of cure.