Ehrlichiosis, a globally transmitted canine vectorborne disease (CVBD) carried by ticks, results from the rickettsial bacteria Ehrlichia spp. This condition impacts not just dogs but also humans and a range of domestic and wild animal species. The primary mode of transmission to humans occurs through the bite of a tick infected with Ehrlichia spp.
Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacteria with a preference for hematopoietic cells characterize Ehrlichia spp. Three specific species—E. canis, E. chaffeensis, and E. ewingii—are responsible for inducing canine ehrlichiosis. The term "ehrlichiosis" may still be employed to describe infections caused by organisms formerly categorized under the Ehrlichiae tribe.
Human cases associated with E. chaffeensis and E. ewingii are most frequently reported in the southeastern and south-central United States, where the lone star tick is prevalent.
The contraction of E. muris eauclairensis by humans is likely through the bite of a blacklegged tick (deer tick) carrying the corresponding bacteria. To facilitate disease transmission, a tick must remain attached to a person for a specified duration.
Canine Ehrlichiosis Transmission
