Polymerase chain reaction evidence of Ehrlichia chaffeensis, an etiologic agent of human ehrlichiosis, in dogs from southeast Virginia.
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain whether dogs are naturally infected with Ehrlichia chaffeensis.


METHODS
74 dogs from 5 animal shelters and 1 kennel in 3 cities and 3 counties in southeastern Virginia were tested during June 1991.


METHODS
Blood was drawn from 74 dogs; 73 were tested serologically for antibodies reactive to E chaffeensis and E canis, and 38 were tested for the presence of E chaffeensis, E canis, and E ewingii by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Serologic testing by indirect fluorescent antibody assay. Nested PCR used Ehrlichia wide outside primers to detect initial products, followed by use of species-specific primers for identification.


RESULTS
28 (38.4%) dogs had a positive test result (minimum titer, > or = 1:64) for antibodies reactive to E chaffeensis, and 28 (38.4%) had a positive reaction to E canis. PCR analysis indicated that 8 (42.1%) dogs were positive for E chaffeensis and 6 dogs (31.6%) were positive for E ewingii. All dogs had negative results of the PCR test for E canis.


CONCLUSIONS
Dogs are potential reservoirs of E chaffeensis.


CONCLUSIONS
Canine E chaffeensis infection may be more prevalent than E canis or E ewingii infection in this region of the United States.
Dawson
J E
JE
Viral and Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
Biggie
K L
KL
Warner
C K
CK
Cookson
K
K
Jenkins
S
S
Levine
J F
JF
Olson
J G
JG
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D017931:DNA Primers; D004283:Dog Diseases; D004285:Dogs / Q000382:microbiology*; D004536:Ehrlichia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018469:Ehrlichia chaffeensis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000662:veterinary*; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D014768:Virginia
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D017931:DNA Primers