title: Ehrlichia canis morulae and DNA detection in whole blood and spleen aspiration samples.
abstract: The aim of this study was to compare the detection of Ehrlichia canis morulae and DNA by nPCR in whole blood and spleen aspiration. The sample included 40 dogs showing thrombocytopenia associated to clinical signs suggestive of canine ehrlichiosis. Morulae detection showed that in 35 of the dogs studied, 17 had morulae in spleen tissue, and two in buffy coat smears. E. canis DNA was detected in 29/40 blood samples. We verified that morulae detection is more efficient in cytological preparations from spleen aspiration. On the other hand, nPCR on spleen and blood samples were equally efficient for disease diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Uberaba – UNI. mirelatc@fcav.unesp.br
authors.forename: Joice Lara Maia
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Faria
authors.forename: Ana Sílvia
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Dagnone
authors.forename: Thiago Demarchi
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Munhoz
authors.forename: Carolina Franchi
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: João
authors.forename: Wanderson Adriano Biscola
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Rosângela Zacarias
authors.initials: RZ
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Mirela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tinucci-Costa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D041061:Ehrlichia canis / Q000235:genetics*; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology*; D013396:Suction
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial