Date Received: 13-04-2026 / Date Accepted: 18-09-2026 / Date Published: 26-10-2026
This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Ehrlichia canis infection in dogs at three veterinary clinics in Hanoi during January - December 2025. A total of 1,381 dogs were presented, of which 302 were tested for blood parasites; 44 dogs (14.57%) showed clinical signs suggestive of blood-borne parasitic infection. Suspected cases were diagnosed using the rapid serological Ehrlichia canis Ab Test and DiffQuick blood smear staining. Results showed that 22.73% (10/44) were positive for Ehrlichia canis by the Ab Test and 13.64% (6/44) by blood smear, and Ehrlichia canis was not the predominant pathogen. Dogs with Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks had a higher positive rate than those without ticks (25.80% vs. 15.40%), but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.68). The most common clinical signs in positive dogs were lethargy, fatigue and anorexia (80%), abdominal hemorrhage (60%), epistaxis and pale mucous membranes (50%). The findings confirm that Ehrlichia canis is circulating in dogs in Hanoi and emphasize the need to combine multiple diagnostic methods to improve accuracy in clinical diagnosis and epidemiological surveillance.
