Ehrlichia canis sample submission guidelines for veterinarians
Infection with Ehrlichia canis is a nationally notifiable disease. If you suspect the presence of E. canis infection in any dog in NSW, you must report it to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
Australia is currently undertaking surveillance activities to determine the geographical distribution of E. canis following confirmation of the disease in Western Australia in May 2020 and the Northern Territory in June 2020.
Clinical signs of E.canis
Case definition
Suspect case:
A dog that presents with clinical disease consistent with E. canis (acute, subclinical or chronic) or idiopathic pyrexia and thrombocytopaenia and has a travel history to Western Australia or Northern Territory in the last two years, has an international travel history in the last two years, has a history of tick-borne related disease or has a history of blood transfusion.
Confirmed case:
A dog that presents with clinical disease consistent with E. canis (acute, subclinical or chronic) that is positive on indirect fluorescent-antibody assay (IFA) on samples tested at the CSIRO Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness.
Required samples
The required samples from live or recently deceased/euthanised animals are:
- blood:
- 2-5ml in an EDTA tube (purple top) AND;
- 2-5ml in a plain tube (red or grey/red speckled top). If possible, a 1–2ml aliquot of clear serum should be obtained
- ticks collected from the affected dog and placed in 70% ethanol
Samples from dead animals are:
- unclotted heart blood (if available)
- fresh and formalin-fixed samples of lung, spleen, liver, kidney, and submandibular lymph node
- ticks collected from the affected dog and placed in 70% ethanol
Tick submission
Ticks may be submitted in 5ml tubes with 2ml of 70% ethanol along with other diagnostic samples if transporting by road. Ethanol cannot be transported by air or through Australia Post.
Where to submit samples
Specimens should be submitted to the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Woodbridge Road, Menangle NSW 2568. A veterinary specimen advice submission form and the Ehrlichia canis surveillance investigation form (PDF, 173.17 KB) the must accompany specimens submitted to the laboratory. There will be no charge for E. canis testing, but wider diagnostic testing will not be undertaken. Submit additional samples to your preferred commercial veterinary laboratory if wider diagnostic testing is required.
Please contact the Customer Service for courier account details and to arrange pre-printed, pre-paid consignment notes. Couriers can then be contacted directly to make bookings and arrange collection of packages. Please contact Customer Service to arrange after-hours or same day deliveries.
If you do suspect the presence of E. canis infection in any dog in NSW, also report it to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 and note that you have submitted samples.
