title: A first case of ehrlichiosis in a horse in Poland.
abstract: The study was aimed at determining the cause of a disease in a horse exhibiting symptoms of fever, joint effusion, weakness, and extravasations on the mucous membranes. Blood was drawn from the animal for haematological and biochemical molecular tests. The PCR technique revealed the presence of 16S RNA Ehrlichia spp. genetic material in the blood samples. DNA amplification by means of primers EHR 521 and EHR 747 gave a product with a volume of 247 bp.The sequence of the PCR product obtained showed a 97.6% similarity with a sequence of a fragment of 16S RNA Ehrlichia phagocytophila, gene number EU 090186 in the GenBank. A microscopic examination of blood smears demonstrated the presence in the neutrophiles of intracytoplasmatic structures characteristic for Ehrlichia.The treatment involved the intravenous application of oxytetracycline at a dose of 8 mg/kg of body mass for 7 days, and resulted in a gradual recovery. The positive results of the molecular test and the positive reaction to the therapy are an indication of the first case of ehrlichiosis in a horse in Poland as confirmed in laboratory test.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epizootiology and Infectious Diseases Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences, Gleboka 30, 20-612 Lublin, Poland. ukaszek0@wp.pl
authors.forename: Łukasz
authors.initials: Ł
authors.lastname: Adaszek
authors.forename: Stanisław
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Winiarczyk
authors.forename: Janina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Łukaszewska
mesh_terms: D041081:Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005784:Gene Amplification; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D011044:Poland; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000032:analysis; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D013752:Tetracycline