Prevalence of ehrlichial infection among dogs and ticks in Northeastern Brazil

This study investigated the epidemiology of canine ehrlichiosis in Northeastern Brazil, focusing the identification of the Ehrlichia species and vectors involved. Samples were collected from 472 domestic dogs residing in the health districts of Cajazeiras and Itapuã of Salvador city. The average prevalence of antibodies reactive to E. canis by immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) (titer > 1:80) was 35.6% (168/472). Blood samples from the E. canis-seropositive animals were tested by nested PCR in order to identify the Ehrlichia species responsible for the infection. Among the seropositives, 58 (34.5%) were found to be PCR-positive for E. canis. Ticks were found in 32 dogs. Nested-PCR analysis showed that 21.9% (7/32) of the Rhipicephalus sanguineus were infected by E. canis. In both dogs and Rhipicephalus sanguineus, nested-PCR for E. ewingii and E. chaffeensis was negative, with no amplification of DNA fragment.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Souza,Bárbara Maria Paraná da Silva, Leal,Danielle Custódio, Barboza,Débora Cristina Portela Medina, Uzêda,Rosângela Soares, Alcântara,Adriano Costa De, Ferreira,Fernando, Labruna,Marcelo Bahia, Gondim,Luís Fernando Pita, Franke,Carlos Roberto
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Colégio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinária 2010
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1984-29612010000200004
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