Direct identification of Ehrlichia canis by a novel polymerase chain reaction method and molecular analysis of the citrate synthase (gltA) gene from various Italian strains.
Fourteen blood samples collected from dogs that were seropositive for Ehrlichia canis were examined for the presence of the citrate synthase gene using a highly specific and sensitive novel polymerase chain reaction assay. The assay detected E. canis DNA in 3 dogs. The complete nucleotide sequence of the citrate synthase gene was determined in 2 of the test-positive samples, and represents the first sequence of the gene to be derived from Italian isolates. The sequence data displayed high identity (99.2%) between the geographically separated Italian samples and the Oklahoma strain of E. canis. The high-sequence conservation revealed by molecular analysis confirmed the usefulness of the citrate synthase gene as a target for detection of E. canis.
Marsilio
Fulvio
F
Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Teramo, Italy. fmarsilio@unite.it
Di Martino
Barbara
B
Meridiani
Ilaria
I
Bianciardi
Paolo
P
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002950:Citrate (si)-Synthase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D004285:Dogs; D041061:Ehrlichia canis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007558:Italy; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D002950:Citrate (si)-Synthase