Ehrlichia canis Ab Test Kit | |
Catalog number | RC-CF025 |
Summary | Detection of specific antibodies of E. canis within
10 minutes |
Principle | One-step immunochromatographic assay |
Detection Targets | E. canis antibodies |
Sample | Canine whole blood, serum or plasma |
Reading time | 5 ~ 10 minutes |
Sensitivity | 97.7 % vs. IFA |
Specificity | 100.0 % vs. IFA |
Limit of Detection | IFA Titer 1/16 |
Quantity | 1 box (kit) = 10 devices (Individual packing) |
Contents | Test kit, Buffer bottle, and Disposable droppers |
Caution |
Use within 10 minutes after opening Use appropriate amount of sample (0.01 ml of a dropper) Use after 15~30 minutes at RT if they are stored under cold circumstances Consider the test results as invalid after 10 minutes |
Ehrlichia canis is a small and rod shaped parasites transmitted by the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus. E. canis is the cause of classical ehrlichiosis in dogs. Dogs may be infected by several Ehrlichia spp. but the most common one causing canine ehrlichiosis is E. canis.
E. canis has now been known to have spread all over the United States, Europe, South America, Asia and the Mediterranean.
Infected dogs that are not treated can become asymptomatic carriers of the disease for years and eventually die from massive hemorrhage.
Ehrlichia canis infection in dogs is divided into 3 stages;
ACUTE PHASE: This is generally a very mild phase. The dog will be listless, off food, and may have enlarged lymph nodes. There may be fever as well but rarely does this phase kill a dog. Most clear the organism on their own but some will go on to the next phase.
SUBCLINICAL PHASE: In this phase, the dog appears normal. The organism has sequestered in the spleen and is essentially hiding out there.
CHRONIC PHASE: In this phase the dog gets sick again. Up to 60% of dogs infected with E. canis will have abnormal bleeding due to reduced platelets numbers. Deep inflammation in the eyes called “uveitis” may occur as a result of the long term immune stimulation. Neurologic effects may also be seen.
Definitive diagnosis of Ehrlichia canis requires visualization of morula within monocytes on cytology, detection of E. canis serum antibodies with the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFA), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, and/or gel blotting (Western immunoblotting).
The mainstay of prevention of canine ehrlichiosis is tick control. The drug of choice for treatment for all forms of ehrlichiosis is doxycycline for at least one month. There should be dramatic clinical improvement within 24-48 hours following initiation of treatment in dogs with acute-phase or mild chronic-phase disease. During this time, platelet counts begin to increase and should be normal within 14 days after initiation of treatment.
After infection, it is possible to become re-infected; immunity is not lasting after a previous infection.
The best prevention of ehrlichiosis is to keep dogs free of ticks. This should include checking the skin daily for ticks and treating dogs with tick control. Since ticks carry other devastating diseases, such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, it's important to keep dogs tick-free.