Molecular evaluation of the incidence of Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys and Babesia spp. in dogs from Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis caused by Ehrlichiacanis is endemic in many regions of Brazil. Since thrombocytopenia is a common finding in infected dogs, many clinicians tend to use it as an indication for antibiotic treatment. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nested PCR were used to study the presence of E. canis, Anaplasma platys and Babesia spp. in thrombocytopenic and non-thrombocytopenic dogs from Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Despite the high prevalence of E. canis infection among thrombocytopenic dogs, 46.7% of the thrombocytopenic dogs studied were either infected with Babesia spp. or A.platys or not infected with any of the three pathogens. There was a high incidence (25.4%) of E. canis infection in non-thrombocytopenic dogs. Although infection with E. canis should be considered in thrombocytopenic dogs, the final diagnosis needs to be confirmed by complementary tests such as blood smears and PCR to avoid the unnecessary use of antibiotics.
Santos
Flávia
F
Unidade de Biotecnologia, Universidade de Ribeirão Preto (UNAERP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Coppede
Juliana S
JS
Pereira
André L A
AL
Oliveira
Letícia P
LP
Roberto
Patrícia G
PG
Benedetti
Roberta B R
RB
Zucoloto
Lenise B
LB
Lucas
Flávia
F
Sobreira
Lúcia
L
Marins
Mozart
M
D000709:Anaplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000712:Anaplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004285:Dogs; D041061:Ehrlichia canis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary