Ehrlichiosis in Dogs

Ehrlichiosis is a disease of dogs that occurs when a species of tick called the 'brown dog tick' (Rhipicephalus linniae previously sanguineus) infected with the bacteria Ehrlichia canis, bites a dog.

Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus)

Photo © Pia Scanlon, WA Agricultural Authority, DPIRD

Infection with E. canis was confirmed for the first time in Australian dogs in May 2020, in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, and then again in June 2020 in the Northern Territory. Further surveillance work on mainland Australia is ongoing.

E. canis occurs around the world, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions, however these recent detections represent the first time ehrlichiosis infection has been detected in dogs in Australia that were not imported.

The disease cannot be passed directly from infected dogs to humans. In extremely rare cases, ticks infected with E.canis may infect people. However human ehrlichiosis is almost always caused by species other than E. canis and these species have not yet been found in Australia.

The Australian Government Department of Health has information on their website about ticks and human health precautions.

What does this mean for Tasmania?

The brown dog tick is a species not found in Tasmania and therefore it is highly unlikely that there will be any transmission of E. canis within the State, as it is primarily a tropical and sub-tropical disease.

However, Tasmanian dogs may become infected if they have travelled to the mainland and been bitten by an infected brown dog tick in 2019 or 2020. The disease appearance and incubation period can be quite variable.

This map provides an approximate line of the southern extent of the known spread of the brown dog tick on mainland Australia. The line is based on data drawn from the publication: A survey of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) of companion animals in Australia.

Note: Tasmania has now introduced new import conditions for the declaration of freedom from ticks for dogs imported into Tasmania. More information is available in the Import Conditions section below.

Advice for dog owners

Ehrlichiosis is a serious disease of dogs, however it can be successfully treated if diagnosed early. Ehrlichiosis can also resemble other conditions of dogs with similar signs, including tick-borne diseases such as anaplasmosis and babesiosis, which are already present in Australia.

Confirmatory testing is required for a diagnosis and reliable tests for ehrlichiosis are available through your private veterinarian. Further confirmatory testing can be performed at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (Geelong) if samples are submitted through the Agency's Animal Health Laboratory (Mount Pleasant) by your veterinarian.

Contact your veterinarian if your dog is showing any signs of the disease; which include:

fever
lethargy
enlarged lymph nodes
loss of appetite
discharge from the eyes and nose
weight loss
anaemia and bleeding disorders such as nosebleeds or bleeding under the skin that looks like small spots, patches or bruising.

In states where the brown dog tick occurs, dog owners can do a number of things to help prevent this disease in their dogs:

Have your dog on a tick control program, preferably including a product that repels ticks.
Where possible, avoid taking dogs into tick-infested areas.
Inspect your dog daily for ticks, especially if they have been in a tick-infested area.
Run your fingers through your dog’s coat over their skin and feel for abnormal bumps. Pay particular attention to the head and neck, inside ears, on the chest, between the toes and around mouths and gums.

Import conditions

Dogs imported to Australia must meet strict import conditions to prevent exotic pests and diseases arriving. Dogs must test negative to E. canis prior to being imported, and all dogs must undergo a mandatory 10 day quarantine period when they arrive. While in quarantine they are inspected for ticks and may undergo further testing if ticks or signs of ehrlichiosis are detected.

Biosecurity Tasmania has taken measures to strengthen Tasmania’s management of dog health risks by gazetting an additional condition for dogs imported into Tasmania - that they be Declared Free from Ticks. There are no exemptions from dogs being checked for ticks. Tasmania has other import conditions for dogs and can be found on the Biosecurity Tasmania webpage: Entry Requirements for Dogs into Tasmania.

Dogs found to be infested with ticks upon arrival in Tasmania may be directed for treatment at the owner’s expense.

Dog owners will now be required to declare their dogs to be tick-free, alongside the existing requirement to produce evidence of worming for hydatids when importing dogs into Tasmania (unless exempted).

Declaration for the entry of dogs into Tasmania

Download the declaration form:

Declaration by Owner or Importer for the Entry of Dogs into Tasmania (173Kb)

See it. Secure it. Report it.

Ehrlichiosis is no longer a nationally notifiable disease. It is considered endemic to Australia, but not to Tasmania.

Dog owners who suspect their dog may have contracted E. canis should consult their private veterinarian in the first instance.

Private veterinarians who suspect a dog may be infected should contact their local Veterinary Officer to discuss sampling and testing.

General biosecurity duty

The Biosecurity Act 2019 introduces in Tasmania a new legal obligation known as the general biosecurity duty (GBD). The Act emphasises the importance of shared responsibilities and the need for Government, industry and the community to work together to maintain a strong biosecurity system.

In simple terms, the GBD reinforces that everyone has a role to play in protecting our unique environment and primary industries against biosecurity risks.

Visit the general biosecurity duty webpages for more information.

Further information

Further information on ehrlichiosis and any updates on the infections detected in Western Australia and the Northern Territory can be found on the national pest and disease outbreaks website Ehrlichiosis in dogs.