Clinical and Serological Evidence of Canine Anaplasmosis and Ehrlichiosis in Urban and Rural Panama

Canine tick borne disease, such as anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis are common diseases in veterinary practices. Most patients are diagnosed using clinical findings, history of tick bites and hematological findings; however, proper approach to diagnostic is not always feasible. Blood from 104 animal patients from urban and rural areas were analyzed finding 53.84% (n=56) having parameters compatible with tick borne disease, 18 from rural settlements and 38 from urban. Immunochromatographic test was performed, finding two animals positive to anaplasmosis, 14 to ehrlichiosis, three with co-infection, and three with negative antibody test. Patients from rural areas were the only to test positive to anaplasmosis or to be co infected. Our results demonstrate a high incidence of ehrlichiosis in both urban and rural areas of Panama.