Ehrlichia canis,
Australia
Information received on 14/12/2020 from Dr Mark Schipp, Chief Veterinary Officer, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Australian Government, Canberra, Australia
Summary
Report type Follow-up report No. 3 (Final report)
Date of start of the event 13/05/2020
Date of confirmation of the event 30/05/2020
Report date 14/12/2020
Date submitted to OIE 14/12/2020
Date event resolved 14/12/2020
Reason for notification Emerging disease
Morbidity 3 (scale 0 to 5)
Mortality 1 (scale 0 to 5)
Zoonotic impact Transmissible to humans through tick bites
Causal agent Ehrlichia canis
Serotype Pending
Related reports Immediate notification (05/06/2020)
Follow-up report No. 1 (23/06/2020)
Follow-up report No. 2 (17/07/2020)
Follow-up report No. 3 (14/12/2020)
Outbreaks There are no new outbreaks in this report
Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection
  • Unknown or inconclusive
Epidemiological comments Surveillance for Ehrlichia canis has found establishment in the dog populations of northern Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Australia notes that Ehrlichia canis is not an OIE-listed disease. However, due to the pathogen’s importance as a trade-related and zoonotic disease, and in the spirit of transparency, Australia has submitted this OIE notification.
Control measures
Measures applied
  • Movement control inside the country
  • Surveillance within containment and/or protection zone
  • Control of vectors
  • Vaccination permitted (if a vaccine exists)
  • Treatment of affected animals (Affected dogs sampled and treated by a private veterinarian in Kununurra. Dogs have been administered tick treatment and are on antibiotic treatment.)
Measures to be applied
  • No other measures
Diagnostic test results
Laboratory name and type Species Test Test date Result
Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (National laboratory) Dogs gene sequencing Pending
Future Reporting
The event cannot be considered resolved, but the situation is sufficiently stable. No more follow-up reports will be sent. Information about this disease will be included in the next six-monthly reports.