Kidney disease in natural infection by Ehrlichia canis in dogs

Abstract

Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis, caused by the intracellular bacterium Ehrlichia canis, can affect different organs, including the kidneys, in different stages of infection, and kidney involvement is considered one of the main causes of death related to the disease. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of kidney disease in dogs naturally infected with E. canis and to correlate antibody levels with the severity of renal disease. Serum concentrations of urea, creatinine, and proteins (albumin and globulin), along with urine concentration, urine gamma-glutamyl transferase, and urine protein levels, were evaluated in 60 dogs with E. canis infection diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction. The detection of anti-E. canis antibodies was also performed for each dog. Of the 60 dogs with E. canis infection, 73.33% presented anti-E. canis antibodies. Laboratory abnormalities consistent with renal disease were observed in 33 (55%) infected dogs, and of these, 43.3% were in stage I chronic kidney disease. A positive correlation was observed between antibody levels and total plasma protein (p = 0.0332) and serum globulin (p = 0.0057) levels. In this study, renal disease was observed on routine laboratory testing in 55% of dogs with monocytic ehrlichiosis; however, there was no correlation between the stage of renal disease and the antibody titer against E. canis.