title: Isolation, in vitro propagation, genetic analysis, and immunogenic characterization of an Ehrlichia canis strain from southeastern Brazil.
abstract: Amplification of the 16S rRNA gene from a blood sample obtained from a dog in southeastern Brazil was used to confirm a naturally acquired Ehrlichia (E.) canis infection. Following isolation and culturing of the new bacterial strain called Uberlandia, partial sequences of the dsb and p28 genes were obtained. The dsb partial sequence of the novel strain was 100% similar to dsb gene sequences of E. canis obtained from different geographic areas around the world. Conversely, the p28 partial sequence for the E. canis Uberlândia strain differed at several nucleotides from other sequences available in GenBank. To confirm the antigenic profile of the Uberlândia strain, an indirect immunofluorescence assay against E. canis antigens was performed using dog sera collected from two different areas in Brazil (Uberlândia and São Paulo). The results suggest that both antigens were able to identify animals seropositive for E. canis in Brazil since these Brazilian strains appear to be highly conserved.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia 38405-320, Brazil.rnalves@icbim.ufu.br.
authors.forename: Rosiane Nascimento
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Susana Elisa
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Rieck
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ueira-Vieira
authors.forename: Marcelo Bahia
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Labruna
authors.forename: Marcelo EmÍlio
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Beletti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D001938:Brazil; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D004285:Dogs; D041061:Ehrlichia canis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
keywords: Brazil; Ehrlichia canis; genetic characterization; isolation; serology