This article is sponsored content brought to you by Elanco.
By Dr Liisa Ahlstrom, Technical Veterinarian, Elanco Animal Health
As Australia heads into another tick season, veterinarians across the country are being urged to stay vigilant for ehrlichiosis, a potentially fatal tick-borne disease that remains one of the most significant emerging health threats to dogs nationwide.
Five years after it was first detected in northern Western Australia, ehrlichiosis is now endemic across northern Australia and continues to move south. The disease is well established in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland and parts of South Australia, highlighting the need for ongoing awareness and prevention.
Because disease transmission can occur so quickly after tick attachment, most tick preventatives, including all isoxazolines, cannot be relied upon to protect dogs from ehrlichiosis. To prevent infection, it’s critical to use a tick repellent to stop ticks from biting. Seresto™ for Dogs provides long-lasting, water-resistant protection that repels and kills ticks on contact, helping reduce the risk of tick-borne diseases including ehrlichiosis for 4 months.*
Understanding the disease
Ehrlichiosis is caused by the bacterium Ehrlichia canis, which is transmitted by the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus linnaei). Once an infected tick attaches and starts feeding, E. canis can enter the bloodstream within as little as three hours. The bacteria invade monocytes and trigger an immune response that is non-protective and counter-productive, leading to widespread organ damage, bleeding disorders, sepsis and in severe cases, bone marrow failure.
Early signs are often subtle; a dog may seem tired, lose interest in food or develop a mild fever. As infection progresses, veterinarians may see nosebleeds, bruising, eye inflammation, anaemia or weight loss. Some dogs recover; others develop a chronic infection that can relapse months or even years later.
Because these signs are non-specific, ehrlichiosis should be considered for any dog with unexplained fever, bleeding abnormalities or bone-marrow changes, particularly if there has been travel or rehoming history from high-risk areas, such as the northern parts of Australia.
A changing tick landscape
The brown dog tick has proven remarkably adaptable to Australian conditions. The local R. linnaei strain can complete its life cycle indoors, in kennels, shelters or homes, allowing infestations to persist even in cooler or urban regions. Dogs travelling for holidays or relocations can inadvertently transport infected ticks long distances, introducing ehrlichiosis into new communities and contributing to the spread further south. This mobility highlights the importance of year-round tick prevention, regardless of location.
Prevention before infection
There is currently no vaccine for ehrlichiosis, and while doxycycline remains the treatment of choice, recovery can be slow and relapses are possible. Because transmission occurs so rapidly after attachment, prevention must focus on stopping ticks before they bite.
Seresto™ for Dogs releases low, controlled doses of imidacloprid and flumethrin across the skin and coat, providing continuous protection for up to eight months against fleas and paralysis ticks, and four months against brown dog ticks and the diseases they spread. Seresto’s unique ability to repel and kill ticks on contact is why it is the only product that is registered to protect dogs from ehrlichiosis.
Working together to reduce risk
Ehrlichiosis continues to challenge veterinarians and pet owners alike, requiring vigilance, early recognition and proactive prevention. By discussing tick control at every consult, particularly before summer travel, veterinarians can play a vital role in reducing the spread of the disease.
At Elanco, we are committed to supporting the veterinary community through research, education and effective prevention options. With ehrlichiosis posing a growing concern in Australia, prevention remains our best defence against this potentially fatal disease.
PM-AU-25-0642. *Read product label for more information.
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