The clinical and histopathologic manifestations of experimental acute ocular ehrlichiosis : a thesis /
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
[College Station, Tex.] :
[Texas A&M University],
[1985]
|
| Subjects: |
| Abstract: | ABSTRACT: Four healthy, adult, mixed-breed dogs (1,3,4, and 5) were inoculated with whole blood from Ehrlichia canis carrier dogs. One dog (2), served as an uninoculated control. Two dogs (1 and 4) subsequently became febrile and variably lethargic. Two of the dogs (1 and 4) lost weight although the appetites of all the dogs remained normal. Dogs 1 and 4 became thrombocytopenic and dogs 1,3, and 4 developed positive titers (IFA) to Ehrlichia canis. The two dogs (1, 4) that became severely thrombocytopenic, developed high IFA titers to E. canis, and exhibited clinical signs of mild to moderate uveal and retinal inflammation approximately 5 weeks after inoculation. Dog 4 developed the most severe ocular signs characterized by moderate aqueous flare, iridal congestion, and retinal perivascular infiltrates. Although inoculated with blood from the same E. canis carrier, dog 5 remained clinically and clinicopathologically normal, and did not develop a detectable IFA titer to E. canis during the 45 day study period. The uninoculated control (dog 2) also remained normal in all respects. Morulae of Ehrlichia organisms were not detected in blood monocytes from buffy coat preparations in the inoculated or control dogs at any time. Ocular histopathologic lesions were detected only in dogs 1 and 4. Nonsupportive panuveitis with perivascular cuffing and vascular margination of monocytic cells was observed. Nonsupportive retinitis was also present in dogs 1 and 4. Organisms were not observed histologically in the immunocytes of any of the dogs. It was concluded that intraocular inflammation is associated with the acute phase of experimental canine ehrlichiosis. The pathophysiology is unclear but may be related to the inherent pathogenicity of the organism and as yet undefined immune phenomena causing vacular endothelial disruption, damage to the retinal pigment epithelium, and breakdown of the "blood-ocular barrier." |
|---|---|
| Item Description: | Vita. "Major Subject: Small Animal Medicine and Surgery". "Submitted to the Graduate College of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science December 1985." Approved as to style and content by: Edwin W. Ellett, Kenneth W. Knauer, Ralph W. Storts |
| Physical Description: | ix, 80 leaves : illustrations (color photographs) ; 28 cm. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 73-79). |