Suppurative spinal meningomyelitis in a dog with intra-neutrophilic cerebrospinal fluid cells Ehrlichia canis morulae

Abstract

A 2-year-old castrated male Creole Shepherd mixed dog was presented for non-ambulatory paraparesis of the pelvic limbs. The magnetic resonance imaging and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis were consistent with meningomyelitis. Positive serology for Ehrlichia canis/Ehrlichia ewingii suggested exposure to a pathogen; qPCR on the serum and the CSF confirmed active infection. Ehrlichial morulae were observed within CSF and peripheral blood polymorphonuclear neutrophils; a species-specific PCR confirmed E. canis infection. This is an interesting report of E. canis infection in a dog with morulae observed in neutrophils both in the peripheral blood and CSF.

Keywords: canine; monocytic ehrlichiosis; morula; neurological disorders; tick-borne diseases.