title: Molecular detection of Ehrlichia canis in dogs in Malaysia.
abstract: An epidemiological study of Ehrlichia canis infection in dogs in Peninsular Malaysia was carried out using molecular detection techniques. A total of 500 canine blood samples were collected from veterinary clinics and dog shelters. Molecular screening by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed using genus-specific primers followed by PCR using E. canis species-specific primers. Ten out of 500 dogs were positive for E. canis. A phylogenetic analysis of the E. canis Malaysia strain showed that it was grouped tightly with other E. canis strains from different geographic regions. The present study revealed for the first time, the presence of genetically confirmed E. canis with a prevalence rate of 2.0% in naturally infected dogs in Malaysia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mojgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nazari
authors.forename: Sue Yee
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Mahira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Reuben S K
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Nadzariah A B Y
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Malaika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D004285:Dogs; D041061:Ehrlichia canis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014730:Veterinary Medicine
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial