[Ehrlichia canis infections of dogs in Germany. Epidemiology, diagnosis, therapy and prophylaxis]

Between January and December 1997 infections with Ehrlichia canis were detected in 211 dogs in Germany. Of the 53 epidemiologically evaluable dogs, 19 animals born and raised in Germany had travelled with their owners abroad in endemic areas, 30 dogs originated from there and four dogs had never left Germany. As regards to the possible location of infection it has been registered that most dogs had been taken to countries of the Mediterranean Sea (Spain, France, Italy, Greece) or had been imported from there. On inquiry, ticks had been forwarded from four dogs only, which were determined as Rhipicephalus sanguineus. The subsequent serological investigation of these four dogs revealed a Rickettsia conorii infection in two of them.