Hematological and biochemical parameters correlated to hemorheology in Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis

Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) is an infectious disease that causes hematological changes in dogs. This study investigated the correlations between hematological and hemorheological parameters, serum proteins, and triglycerides in dogs with CME. Fifty-nine blood and/or bone marrow samples were collected from dogs with or without clinical signs of CME. Blood samples preserved with EDTA were subjected to rheological analysis to investigate blood viscosity. Fourteen dogs with Ehrlichia canis infection (CME group) and 20 without clinical signs and E. canis infection (CG) were selected by qPCR based on Ecaj_0503 gene. The blood viscosity of the infected dogs (CMEG) was lower than that of the control group (CG). The mean values and standard error of erythrocytes (CG: 6.71 ± 0.20; CMEG: 4.82 ± 0.23), platelets (CG: 235.6 ± 15.67; CMEG: 151.07 ± 16.51), and albumin (CG: 3.04 ± 0.15; CMEG: 2.65 ± 0.12) in the infected dogs were lower (p<0.005) than those in the control group. The decrease in erythrocytes influenced the decrease in blood viscosity. Total protein, albumin and triglycerides levels correlated with blood viscosity in infected dogs. Overall, this study shows that dogs with CME have decreased blood viscosity primarily due to anemia and interactions with negative acute-phase proteins.