author(s)
Harshada Game, SP Waghmare, KS Pajai, SV Kuralkar, RS Ingole and Radha Katre

abstract
Ehrlichia canis is a potentially fatal tick born disease in dogs characterised by high body temperature, drop in peripheral blood count due to bone marrow suppression, ophthalmic lesions, splenomegaly, epistaxis, and lymphadenopathy. Diagnosis of ehrlichiosis is mainly based on haematological signs, demonstration of morulae in peripheral blood smear or tissue aspirates, indirect immunofluorescence antibody test, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) etc. In the present study, total 120 adult dogs irrespective of age, sex, body weight and breed with the history of tick infestation and showing clinical signs suggestive of ehrlichiosis were screened for detection of ehrlichia by blood smear examination and Snap 4Dx test. Out of 120 dogs screened 16 dogs were found positive for ehrlichia based on Snap 4Dx test. Of which 12 were selected for the study. The ehrlichia infected dogs showed pyrexia, depression, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, anorexia, inappetence, corneal opacity, epistaxis, lameness and pulmonary signs. Clinico-physiological parameters showed rise in rectal temperature and respiratory rate in ehrlichia infected dogs than normal physiological reference range. Pale mucus membrane was predominantly found in ehrlichia infected dogs. The haematological study revealed anaemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, lymphocytosis in ehrlichia infected dogs.