Canine Ehrlichiosis-associated cutaneous vasculitis. Report of a clinical case

• María Inés Gualan-Cango Universidad Técnica de Machala, Programa de maestría en Medicina Veterinaria, mención Clínica y Cirugía de Pequeñas Especies. Machala, El Oro, Ecuador
• Andrés Renato Ordoñez Universidad Técnica de Machala, Programa de maestría en Medicina Veterinaria, mención Clínica y Cirugía de Pequeñas Especies. Machala, El Oro, Ecuador - RenatoVetDerm. Davie, Florida, Estados Unidos de América
• Renzo Andrés Venturo-Barriga Universidad Científica del Sur. Lima, Perú
• Lenin Fernando Aguilar-Galvez Universidad Técnica de Machala, Programa de maestría en Medicina Veterinaria, mención Clínica y Cirugía de Pequeñas Especies. Machala, El Oro, Ecuador

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52973/rcfcv-e33192

Keywords: Rickettsia, vasculitis, Ehrlichia, dermatitis

Abstract

Canine Ehrlichiosis can trigger cutaneous vasculitis by immunopathogenic mechanisms, as do Rickettsia and Leishmania, among others. Vasculitis refers to inflammation of the blood vessels of the skin resulting in altered blood flow and ischemic necrosis of the skin. The aim of this work was to report the case of a four-year-old male dog, which presented erosive-ulcerative alopecic lesions and some crusty lesions on the head, nasal plane, flexion regions, pinna and tip of the tail. A hemogram was performed, confirming anemia, normocytic normochromic non-regenerative, leukocytes still normal with lymphopenia, and thrombocytopenia. The blood smear showed the presence of basophilic morulae in monocytes, findings compatible with Ehrlichia spp. The patient was treated with Prednisolone 1 milligram·kilogram^-1 -mg·kg^-1- every 24 hours –h– for 10 days –d-, Pentoxifylline 15 mg every 12 h for 120 d, 500 mg of Doxycycline and 500 mg of Niacinamide every 12 h for 20 d. Two controls (skin lesions) were performed, one at 21 d and the other at 60 d. It is concluded that the treatment was satisfactory, where the patient recovered completely after the treatment administered.

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