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Evaluation of neutrophil oxidative metabolism in canine monocytic ehrlichiosis
Author(s) -
Hasegawa Marcia Y.,
Kohayagawa Aguemi,
Brandão Leonardo P.,
Morgulis Maria Silvia F. A.,
Hagiwara Mitika K.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
veterinary clinical pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.537
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1939-165X
pISSN - 0275-6382
DOI - 10.1111/j.1939-165x.2005.tb00043.x
Subject(s) - ehrlichiosis , ehrlichia canis , ehrlichia , leukopenia , canis , immunology , medicine , absolute neutrophil count , rickettsia , rickettsiales , nitroblue tetrazolium , neutropenia , biology , tick , virology , toxicity , antibody , paleontology , biochemistry , virus , serology , gene
Background: Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) is a tick‐borne disease caused by Ehrlichia canis , a rickettsia that infects the monocytes of dogs. This infection can result in a chronic and life‐threatening disease. Thrombocytopenia, mild anemia, and leukopenia are the most common hematologic findings in CME. Objective: To investigate the role of peripheral blood neutrophils in CME, an evaluation was conducted of their functional state during the acute phase of the disease in dogs experimentally infected by E canis . Methods: Seven dogs were inoculated with E canis , and 3 remained as uninfected controls. All dogs had physical exams and hematologic tests (CBC and nitroblue tetrazolium [NBT] reduction) during a 6‐week period. Results: There was no difference ( P > .05) in spontaneous NBT reduction results between the 2 groups of dogs throughout the 6‐week period of observation. Nevertheless, when stimulated, the neutrophils showed higher activity in the infected group ( P = .01) on weeks 4 and 5 after infection. Conclusion: Infection by E canis has no influence on neutrophil oxidative metabolism even though during the remission period of the acute phase of the disease, the neutrophils seem to be more reactive under stimulation.