Evaluation of Red Cell Distribution Width in Dogs with Monocytic Ehrlichiosis

Abstract

Monocytic ehrlichiosis is an important vector-borne disease that is common in dogs and may lead to various systemic findings, especially anemia and thrombocytopenia. The red cell distribution width (RDW), a biomarker of anisocytosis, might be used for interpretation of anemia. Possible increases in RDW levels might be associated to oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. In the present study, it was aimed to compare RDW value and related erythrocyte parameters in dogs acutely and subclinically infected with monocytic ehrlichiosis and compared to healthy dogs. The animal material of the study was composed of 95 dogs of different breed, age and of both sexes, tothose of naturally infected with monocytic ehrlichiosis (n=55) and healthy (n=40). Dogs infected with monocytic ehrlichiosis were divided into two groups; dogs showing clinical and laboratory findings of the disease as acutely infected (n = 45) and subclinically infected (n = 10) without any findings. Erythrocyte, hemoglobin, hematocrit and mean erythrocyte volume values were lower (p