Detection of Ehrlichia canis by PCR in different tissues obtained during necropsy from dogs surveyed for naturally occurring canine monocytic ehrlichiosis.
A molecular study for the detection of Ehrlichia canis was carried out on tissues obtained at necropsy from randomly selected dogs with the intention of investigating naturally-occurring canine ehrlichiosis. The tissues evaluated for the presence of E. canis included lymph nodes, spleen, liver, bone marrow, and blood. Eight of the 18 dogs included were found to be positive for E. canis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Two dogs were positive for Anaplasma platys of which one dog was co-infected with E. canis and A. platys. Blood (5/8) and lymph nodes (5/8) were the tissues found to yield the highest number of positive E. canis PCR results with 7/8 dogs positive in the blood or lymph node. E. canis and A. platys DNA could be amplified by PCR when tissue samples were obtained 72h after the time of death.
Gal
Arnon
A
School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
Loeb
Emmanuel
E
Yisaschar-Mekuzas
Yael
Y
Baneth
Gad
G
D000818:Animals; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000382:microbiology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D004285:Dogs; D041061:Ehrlichia canis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary*; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology
D004269:DNA, Bacterial