Information for vets
PIRSA has completed surveillance in dogs (including blood and tick samples) to determine whether E. canis is present in South Australia.
Ehrlichiosis was detected in ticks collected from 2 dogs in the APY lands in January 2021. Further tick samples collected in February 2021 confirmed widespread infection of ticks across multiple communities in the APY lands.
The first known case of ehrlichiosis in a dog from the APY lands, in far north South Australia, was diagnosed in March 2021.
Notifiable disease reporting
Infection with ehrlichiosis is a notifiable disease in Australia. Therefore, all SA private veterinary practitioners are required to report any suspicion of clinical cases, including the:
- home location
- travel history
- tick exposure
- tick control history.
For suspected E. canis cases based on laboratory findings, and appropriate travel history or tick exposure, please immediately call the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline: 1800 675 888.
Samples may need to be collected.
Please also call the laboratory if diagnostic results are required urgently, otherwise results may be delayed: (08) 8202 3300
Ongoing E. canis surveillance by SA private veterinary practitioners
South Australian domestic and community dogs may be approved for testing, at no charge to the owner or veterinarian. The dogs must:
- show clinical signs consistent with E. canis infection
- not originate from the APY lands.
A manual platelet count on a fresh blood film is required to assess the presence of thrombocytopaenia. This can be performed in-house or commercially, and must be done prior to seeking sample submission approval.
On a well spread blood film where cells are distributed in a monolayer, platelets per high power field (using the 100x oil objective) should be counted. An average across 10 high power fields are then calculated.
An average of 12-15 platelets per 100x field (approximately 2.0 x 105 platelets per µL) is considered normal. If there are less platelets present, the animal may have thrombocytopaenia.
Approval by a PIRSA veterinarian must be granted prior to any sample submission for E. canis testing, if costs are requested to be covered by PIRSA.
Samples and submission forms
Submissions require these specified samples:
- 2-5ml Clotted blood/serum (4 °C)
- 2-5ml EDTA blood (4 °C)
- ± Ticks from dogs, in 2ml 70% ethanol (Room temp.)
- ± Fresh blood films
These completed travel history and submission forms must be included:
Dogs tested for E. canis
Private veterinarians can submit samples from any domestic or community dogs for E. canis testing. However, if costs for testing are to be covered by PIRSA, then the animal must be clinically suspect for E. canis infection and approval must be sought from a PIRSA veterinarian prior to submission.
The likelihood of infection is increased where the dog has:
- clinical signs consistent with E. canis including:
- thrombocytopaenia^
- unexplained fever or lethargy
- blood from the nose
- +/- swollen lymph nodes
- +/- not eating
^note: thrombocytopaenia needs to be verified by manual examination of blood smears, and not by in-house laboratory results alone.
- a history of travel to regions with high tick numbers in northern SA or interstate
- a history of recent tick attachment and/or insufficient tick control program
More information
- Veterinarian notifiable disease detection update – Ehrlichia canis information for private vets ( or )
- E. canis guidelines for veterinarians from the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade (NT)
- National pest and disease outbreaks website
- Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (WA)
- Department of Primary Industry and Resources (NT)
- An update on the treatment of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis) ()
- Consensus statement on Ehrlichial disease of small animals ()
Contact
Dr Allison Crawley
Email: allison.crawley@sa.gov.au
Phone: 0459 888 133