MegaELISA® EHRLICHIA canis is an enzyme immunoassay for the qualitative detection of IgG antibodies against Ehrlichia canis in plasma or serum of the dog.

Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) is caused by the rickettsia Ehrlichia canis, which are mainly transmitted by the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus). Ehrlichia canis is found in many parts of the world, especially in the Mediterranean area, but also in Switzerland and partly Germany. Ehrlichiosis is common in the dog, but seldom in humans.

The concentration of specific antibodies increases sharply 2–3 weeks post infection. A fourfold titre increase of antibodies in an interval of two weeks (seroconversion) is indicative for an acute infection. In the acute stage, the dog shows apathy, anorexia, fever and lymphadenitis. In the subclinical phase, clinical symptoms are missing, but not the typical ehrlichiosis laboratory results like hyperglobulinaemia and thrombocytopenia. Chronic phase animals show slight up to life-threatening symptoms: spontaneous bleedings, neurological disorders, anaemia, severe loss of weight as well as spleno- and hepatomegaly. Indirect antibody detection is known to be an important diagnostic tool diagnosing CME beside clinical symptoms, case history (travel abroad) and direct antigen detection.

MegaELISA® EHRLICHIA canis is based on highly specific E. canis antigens for a fast and reliable detection of antibodies against Ehrlichia canis in plasma or serum of infected dogs.