title: Ehrlichia canis in dogs in a semiarid region of Northeastern Brazil: serology, molecular detection and associated factors.
abstract: This study investigated infection by Ehrlichia spp. agents by PCR, immunofluorescence assay test (IFAT), and by Giemsa-stained blood smears in 108 dogs from a semiarid region of the state of Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil. Seventy-five (69.4%) of the 108 dogs were found to be seropositive to Ehrlichia canis, while only four dogs (3.7%) were positive in real-time PCR for E. canis. In six dogs (5.6%) E. canis-like morulae were observed in monocytes. Animals that stayed in environment whose floor was dried dirt, and dogs whose owners reported low frequency of cleaning the dog environment had higher (P<0.05) PCR positivity for E. canis. Increasing seropositivity was found in older dogs (P=0.012). This study provides the first molecular detection of E. canis in the semiarid region of Northeastern Brazil.
authors.affiliation: Unidade Acadêmica de Medicina Veterinária, Centro de Saúde e Tecnologia Rural da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Patos, PB, Brazil.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanikawa
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Labruna
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Aguiar
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Justiniano
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Mendes
authors.forename: A L T
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Azevedo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004285:Dogs; D041061:Ehrlichia canis; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000382:microbiology; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012307:Risk Factors; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000662:veterinary