Ehrlichia titers

Re: Ehrlichia titers

Annemiek — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:04:03 GMT

Can you remember what the titer was? I think with the higher titers cross reactivity becomes unlikely (1:2560 in this case). The 10 mg/kg BID is not a typo, traditionally they dosed dogs with 5 mg/kg BID but more recent studies suggest 10 mg/kg BID although for subclinical cases you could use 5 mg/kg BID. A PCR (blood) was negative, we considered a splenic FNAB but unfortunately I don't think the Australian authorities will fall for that....I might just contact them...

Re: Ehrlichia titers

Laurence Webb — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:48:04 GMT

I had a dog that ended up not going to Oz because of 2 +ve tests. I discussed it with the VLA and cross reactivity was their main suspicion for failure (dog hadn't been out of the UK). One of the reasons they sited as a possible failure was that the sample had been taken on a Friday so it was 'old' by the time it reached the lab. If I can remember the name of the person I spoke to about it I'll let you know

Re: Ehrlichia titers

Maya J — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:33:03 GMT

if you are looking for an active infection, the PCR is supposed to be more accurate but you can get false negatives. they reckon on an FNA from the spleen to be sent for PCR which will tell you if active infection as opposed to previous exposure. i wouldnt be happy aspirating a spleen, but perhaps you would?? not sure if it was a typo, but you said you were treating with 10mg/kg bid. i thought the dosage was 5mg/kg bid or 10mg/kd sid. i may be wrong! We recently had an imported dog from greece with a similar titre 1:2000, but this dog definately had previous exposure. our lab advised treatment whether it was subclinical or not and apparently monitoring antibody levels after treatment is not always relevant as it may remain high after 4-6wks treatment.

Maya.

Re: Ehrlichia titers

Annemiek — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:15:34 GMT

thanks to all of you who replied. The biggest problem with the test I think is cross reacting with Anaplasma which apparently is 'endemic' in the UK. Defra has informed us loads of dogs test positve, including dogs that have never left the UK. As the vector for Ehrlichia is not (yet?) present in the UK, ehrlichia should not be able to spread in the UK. With this in mind I then assume these dogs have cross reacted on the IFAT with anaplasma.

Re: Ehrlichia titers

kirsty — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 18:06:51 GMT

we have just sent a dog to Dubai-- and did not need to test if UK was clear--- defra were happy to say we were and provided a letter to say so -- so kind of shows how useless the test is !!!!

Re: Ehrlichia titers

Charlotte Marshall — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:54:31 GMT

I had a dog never been out of UK test positive before export. It had the doxycycline and the second test was done by the exporting company so I did not see the result. What I wondered was about reporting it on the DACTARI system. When I downloaded the form it only seemed to be for reporting clinical cases. Are we expected to report positive titres too and if so how do you report them on the form?

Re: Ehrlichia titers

Hanna Bennett — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 14:56:33 GMT

i've had dogs test positive for months i'm afraid.

Re: Ehrlichia titers

katja wagner — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 14:46:28 GMT

colleague last year had clients emmigrating to NZ, ehrlichiose titer positive and only 3 weeks time to treat and retest, had 2 weeks ronaxon and titer came back negative. the dog was a young labrador bred in uk and never been out the country,2 other dogs of the client were negativ. not sure how valuable the test was but there was just no time to retest before treating the dog and luckily he was clear to travel then.

cheers katja

Re: Ehrlichia titers

Annemiek — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:22:30 GMT

Thanks, yes, had a look at it few days ago but not much help in my case. Just need to know whether it is realistic to think her antibodies will decline and become negative over the next few months or I would heave to rehome her....

Re: Ehrlichia titers

Clive Ansell — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:57:36 GMT

There is an archived Idexx webinar on Tick Transmitted diseases by Sue Shaw from Bristol, not had time to attend myself yet, and don't know if it will help? 1 Hour CPD too.

You may need to reister with Idexx if you haven't already

Tick Tramsmitted diseases

Re: Ehrlichia titers

Annemiek — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:01:01 GMT

Can you remember whether the titer was as high? I've been told loads test positive and then negative a week/ few weeks later. I think lower titers have a higher cross reactivity with anaplasma....endemic in places in the UK. My worry is high titers and history of exposure likely.....would be devastated if I had to leave her behind.....which I fear might happen

Re: Ehrlichia titers

kirsty — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 10:32:37 GMT

we had similar positive blood test for friends newfoundland going to Oz - never been out of the Scottish borders so ? dodgy blood test - think we spoke to Sue shaw at bristol - think she didn't like the type of test but oz authorities won't change it -- but don't think we gave dog anything and she passed next time -- but her lepto titre that was another problem - 3 test before clearance and she hadn't been vaccinated in 18months -shame it meant she couldn't travel with her kennel mate so I hate exporting to oz and warn all owners re possibility of random nature of blood results good luck next time