title: Serologic prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis, Ehrlichia canis, and Borrelia burgdorferi infections in Brazil.
abstract: Dogs infected with Dirofilaria immitis, Ehrlichia canis, or Borrelia burgdorferi may show nonspecific clinical signs or may be asymptomatic. In Brazil, E. canis and D. immitis infections are frequently diagnosed based on the presence of classical signs; however, serologic tests are seldom performed to confirm the presence of infection. To estimate the seroprevalence of these three canine diseases in Brazil, 2,553 dogs presented at veterinary practices for various tests, routine treatments, or examinations were evaluated by an in-office commercial ELISA test kit (SNAP 3Dx, IDEXX Laboratories). Each dog was examined by the veterinarian, and a whole-blood sample was collected and immediately tested for the simultaneous detection of B. burgdorferi and E. canis antibodies and D. immitis antigen. D. immitis infection was detected in 51 dogs (2.0%) and E. canis antibodies were present in 505 dogs 19.8%). Only one dog tested positive for B. burgdorferi antibodies.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal Fluminense, Vital Brazil Filho 64, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Labarthe
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Campos Pereira
authors.forename: Oclydes
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Barbarini
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: McKee
authors.forename: Carlos Alberto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Coimbra
authors.forename: Johnny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hoskins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000032:analysis; D001899:Borrelia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004183:Dirofilaria immitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004184:Dirofilariasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D041061:Ehrlichia canis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000947:Antigens, Helminth