title: First detection of Ehrlichia canis in Rhipicephalus bursa ticks in Sardinia, Italy.
abstract: Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis is a common and widespread disease. This disease is present in Sardinia year-round because the temperate weather on the island permits the survival of many types of tick vectors. A total of 35 ticks was collected from goats in south-eastern Sardinia, Italy, and tested for Ehrlichia DNA using polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing. This study provides the first evidence of the presence of Ehrlichia canis in Rhipicephalus bursa ticks. The data presented here increase our knowledge of tick-borne diseases in Sardinia and provide a useful contribution toward understanding their epidemiology. The role of R. bursa in the life cycle and transmission of E. canis needs however further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Sassari, Italy. giovanna.masala@izs-sardegna.it
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Masala
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chisu
authors.forename: Cipriano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Foxi
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Socolovschi
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raoult
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parola
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D041061:Ehrlichia canis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats / Q000469:parasitology; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D048494:Rhipicephalus / Q000382:microbiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S