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 pre...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria Vol. 19; no. 2; pp. 89 - 93
Main Authors:	Souza, B. M. P. da S., Leal, D. C., Barboza, D. C. P. M., Uzêda, R. S., De Alcântara, A. C., Ferreira, F., Labruna, M. B., Gondim, L. F. P., Franke, C. R.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Colégio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinária 01-06-2010
Subjects:	PARASITOLOGY VETERINARY SCIENCES epidemiology Ehrlichia epidemiologia PCR
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Summary:	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.
ISSN:	1984-2961 1984-2961
DOI:	10.4322/rbpv.01902004