Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Ehrlichiosis pp 1–8Cite as

The Historical Background and Global Importance of Ehrlichiosis

  • Chapter

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science ((CTVM,volume 54))

Abstract

Ehrlichiosis is caused by a group of small, pleomorphic microorganisms found in circulating leukocytes of susceptible mammalian hosts. The tribe Ehlichiae, which includes a number of species infecting animals, is a member of the family Rickettsiaceae. In the 1984 edition of Bergey’s Manual, Rickettsia sennetsu, the etiologic agent of human “sennetsu rickettsiosis” in western Japan, was moved to the genus Ehrlichia, based on morphological, cultural, and antigenic characteristics. For the first time, the genus Ehrlichia included a species causing human disease. The recent identification of an ehrlichial agent, E. risticii, as the cause of Potomac horse fever (PHF) is evidence of the importance of this group of microorganisms as the cause of disease in animals. More recently, ehrlichial infections have been implicated in humans with disease that appears to be similar to Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF). The diagnosis was based on morphological characteristics of infected leukocytes and serological studies, which served to suggest that the infecting microorganism is closely related to Ehrlichia canis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Literature Cited

  1. Amyx, H. L. and D. L. Huxsoll. 1973. Red and gray foxes —potential reservoir hosts for Ehrlichia canis. J. Wildl. Dis.. 9:47–50.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Amyx, H. L., D. L. Huxsoll, D. C. Zeiler, and P. K. Hildebrandt. 1971. Therapeutic and prophylactic value of tetracycline in dogs infected with the agent of tropical canine pancytopenia. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 159:1428–1432.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Bool, P. H. and P. Sutmoller. 1957. Ehrlichia canis infections in dogs on Aruba (Netherlands Antilles). J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 130:418–420.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Brown, J. L., D. L. Huxsoll, M. Ristic, and P. K. Hildebrandt. 1972. In vitro cultivation of Neorickettsia helminthoeca, the causative agent of salmon poisoning disease. Am. J. Vet. Res. 33:1695–1700.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Buhles, W. C., Jr., D. L. Huxsoll, and B. L. Elisberg. 1973. Isolation of Rickettsia rickettsii in primary bone marrow cell and circulating monocyte cultures derived from experimentally infected guinea pigs. Infect. Immun. 7:1003–1005.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Buhles, W. C. Jr., D. L. Huxsoll, and P. Hildebrandt. 1975. Tropical canine pancytopenia: role of aplastic anemia in the pathogenesis of severe disease. J. Comp. Path. 85:511–521.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Buhles, W. C, Jr., D. L. Huxsoll, and M. Ristic. 1974. Tropical canine pancytopenia: clinical, hematologic, and serologic response of dogs to Ehrlichia canis infection, tetracycline therapy, and challenge inoculation. J. Infect. Dis. 130:357–367.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Davidson, D. E., Jr., G. S. Dill, M. Tingpalapong, M. Premabutra, P. L. Nguen, E. H. Stephenson, and M. Ristic. 1975 Canine ehrlichiosis (tropical canine pancytopenia) in Thailand. Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Pub. H1th. Vol 6: No. 4.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Davidson, D. E. Jr., G. S. Dill, M. Tingpalapong, M. Premabutra, P. L. Nugen, E. H. Stephenson, and M. Ristic. Prophylactic and therapeutic use of tetracycline during an epizootic of ehrlichiosis among military dogs. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 172: No. 6:697–699.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Donatien, A. and F. Lestoquard. 1935. Existence en Algérie d’une Ricketttsia du chien. Bulletin de la Societé de Pathologie Exotique. 28:418–419.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Donatien, A. and F. Lestoquard. 1937. État actuel des connaissances sur les Rickettsioses animales. Archives de l’Institut Pasteur d’Algérie. 15:142–187.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Ewing, S. A. 1963. Observations on leukocytic inclusion bodies from dogs infected with Babesia canis. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 143:503–506.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Ewing, S. A. 1969. Canine ehrlichiosis. Adv. Vet. Comp. Med. 13:331–353.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Ewing, S. A. and R. G. Buckner. 1965. Observations on the incubation period and persistence of Ehrlichia species in experimentally infected dogs. Vet. Med./Sm. Ann. Clin. 60:152–155.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Groves, M. G., G. L. Dennis, H. L. Amyx, and D. L. Huxsoll. 1975. Transmission of Ehrlichia canis to dogs by Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks. Am. J. Vet. Res. 36:937–940.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Hildebrandt, P. K., D. L. Huxsoll, J. S. Walker, R. M. Nims, R. Taylor, and M. Andrews. 1973. Pathology of canine ehrlichiosis (tropical canine pancytopenia). Am. J. Vet. Res. 34:1309–1320.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Hoilien, C. A., M. Ristic, D. L. Huxsoll, and G. Rapmund. 1982. Rickettsia sennetsu in human blood monocyte cultures: similarities to the growth cycle of Ehrlichia canis. Infect. Immun. 35:314–319.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Holland, C. J., M. Ristic, A. I. Cole, P. Johnson, G. Baker, and T. Goetz. 1985. Isolation, experimental transmission and characterization of causative agent of Potomac horse fever. Science 227:522–524.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Holland, C. J., M. Ristic, D. L. Huxsoll, A. I. Cole, and G. Rapmund. 1985. Adaption of Ehrlichia sennetsu to canine blood monocytes: preliminary structural and serological studies with cell culture-derived Ehrlichia sennetsu. Infect. Immun. 366–371.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Huxsoll, D. L. 1976. Canine ehrlichiosis (tropical canine pancytopenia): a review, In Veterinary Parasitology, Elsevier Sci. Pub. Co., Amsterdam. 2:49–60.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Huxsoll, D. L., P. K. Hildebrandt, R. M. Nims, J. A. Fergurson, and J. S. Walker. 1969. Ehrlichia canis—the causative agent of a hemorrhagic disease of dogs? Vet. Rec. 85:587.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Huxsoll, D. L., P. K. Hildebrandt, R. M. Nims, and J. S. Walker. 1970. Tropical canine pancytopenia. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 157:1627–1632.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Huxsoll, D. L., A. Shirai, D. M. Robinson, L. F. Yap, and B. L. Lim. 1977. Presence of antibodies to scrub typhus and murine typhus in dogs from Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia. Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Pub. H1th. 8: No. 2.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Keefe, T. J., C. J. Holland, P. E. Salyer, and M. Ristic. 1982. Distribution of Ehrlichia canis among military working dogs in the world and selected civilian dogs in the United States. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 181:236–238.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Keenan, K. P., W. C. Buhles, D. L. Huxsoll, R. G. Williams, and P. K. Hildebrandt. 1977. Studies on the pathogenesis of Rickettsia rickettsii in the dog: clinical and clinicopathologic changes of experimental infection. Am. J. Vet. Res. 38:No. 6, 851–856.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Kelch, W. J. 1984. The canine ehrlichiosis (tropical canine pancytopenia) epizootic in Vietnam and its implications for the veterinary care of military working dogs. Milit. Med. 149:327–331.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Maeda K., N. Markowitz, R. C. Hawley, M. Ristic, D. Cox, and J. McDade. 1987. Human infection with Ehrlichia canis, a leukocytic rickettsia. N. Eng. J. Med. 316:853–856.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Nyindo, M. B. A., M. Ristic, D. L. Huxsoll, and A. R. Smith. 1971. Tropical canine pancytopenia: in vitro cultivation of the causative agent, Ehrlichia canis. Am. J. Vet. Res. 32:1651–1658.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Ridout, S. 1969. Eau Gollie, FL. Personal communication.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Ristic, M. 1986. Pertinent characteristics of leukocytic rickettsiae of humans and animals, pp. 182–187, In L. Leive (ed.), Microbiology—1986. American Society for Microbiology, Washington D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Ristic, M., D. L. Huxsoll, N. Tachibana, and G. Rapmund. 1981. Evidence of a serologic relationship between Ehrlichia canis and Rickettsia sennetsu. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 30:1324–1328.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Ristic, M., D. L. Huxsoll, R. M. Weisiger, P. K. Hildebrandt, and M. B. A. Nyindo. 1972. Serological diagnosis of tropical canine pancytopenia by indirect immunofluorescence. Infect. Immun. 6:226–231.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Walker, J. S., J. D. Rundquist, R. Taylor, B. L. Wilson, M. R. Andrews, J. Barck, A. L. Hogge, Jr,D. L. Huxsoll, P. K. Hildebrandt, and R. M. Nims. 1970. Clinical and clinicopathologic findings in tropical canine pancytopenia. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 157:43–55.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Wilkins, J. H., R. S. T. Bowden, and G. T. Wilkinson. 1967. A new canine disease syndrome. Vet. Rec. 81:57–58.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. David L. Huxsoll D.V.M. Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Office of the Director of Intramural Research Programs, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

    Jim C. Williams Ph.D.

  2. Bacteriology Division, Department of Intracellular Pathogens, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland, USA

    Jim C. Williams Ph.D.

  3. Department of Veterinary Pathobiology and Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA

    Ibulaimu Kakoma D.V.M., Ph.D.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1990 Kluwer Academic Publishers

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Huxsoll, D.L. (1990). The Historical Background and Global Importance of Ehrlichiosis. In: Williams, J.C., Kakoma, I. (eds) Ehrlichiosis. Current Topics in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, vol 54. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1998-3_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1998-3_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7394-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-1998-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation