author(s)
Laxmi Bai, Parveen Goel, Ricky Jhambh and Preeti

abstract
Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) is an important tick-borne disease of dogs with a worldwide distribution. Doxycycline is considered the treatment of choice for the disease and the most cases show resolution of clinical illness within 24 to 72 hours after institution of treatment; however, the clinical laboratory parameters remain abnormal. Therefore, the present investigation was conducted to evaluate the ameliorative potential of polyherbal preparation containing Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Ashvagandha (Withania somnifera), Punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) and Methika (Trigonella foenum-graecum) in dogs with canine monocytic ehrlichiosis. A total of 18 dogs diagnosed for CME by nested PCR assay targeting a portion of 16S rRNA gene of Ehrlichia canis, were randomly divided into two groups of nine dogs each. Group I was treated with the standard treatment regimen consisting of doxycycline at the rate of 5 mg/kg twice daily for 21 days. Group II was supplemented with polyherbal formulation along with standard therapy. Therapeutic evaluation was done on the basis of haematobiochemical profile on day 0, 7, 14 and 21 of therapy. There was found significant (P<0.05) improvement in vital parameters in both the groups. Thus, the present investigation revealed the ameliorative potential of polyhedral immunomodulator preparation in infected dogs.