title: First molecular detection of Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma platys in ticks from dogs in Cebu, Philippines.
abstract: Ehrlichia canis infection of dogs in the Philippines has been detected by serological and peripheral blood smear examination methods, but not by molecular means. Anaplasma platys infection in dogs has not yet been officially reported, although it is suspected to occur in the country. Thus, sensitive and specific molecular techniques were used in this study to demonstrate the presence of both E. canis and A. platys in the Philippines. A total of 164 Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks was collected from 36 dogs. Seven tick samples were found positive with E. canis and one sample with A. platys. To further characterize these pathogens, molecular analyses based on citrate synthase and heat-shock operon genes were also performed. Philippine strains were found to be not divergent from strains from other countries. The present results are the first molecular detection and analyses of E. canis and A. platys in ticks from dogs in the Philippines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Adrian P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Ybañez
authors.forename: Zandro O
authors.initials: ZO
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Shirleny R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Gabotero
authors.forename: Ryan T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Yandug
authors.forename: Matsumoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kotaro
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inokuma
mesh_terms: D000709:Anaplasma / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D002950:Citrate (si)-Synthase / Q000235:genetics; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D041061:Ehrlichia canis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005838:Genotype; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010679:Philippines; D010802:Phylogeny; D048508:Rhipicephalus sanguineus / Q000382:microbiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D002950:Citrate (si)-Synthase