title: Canine vector-borne co-infections: Ehrlichia canis and Hepatozoon canis in the same host monocytes.
abstract: The protozoon Hepatozoon canis and the rickettsia Ehrlichia canis are tick-borne pathogens, transmitted by Rhipicephalus sanguineus, which cause canine hepatozoonosis and canine monocytic ehrlichiosis, respectively. Co-infection of the same host monocytes with H. canis and E. canis confirmed by molecular characterization of the infecting agents and quantitative assessment of co-infected cells is described for the first time in three naturally-infected dogs. Blood smear evaluation indicated that at least 50% of the leukocytes infected with H. canis gamonts contained E. canis morulae. Co-infection of the same host cell demonstrated in this report suggests that infection with one pathogen may permit or enhance invasion or prolonged cellular survival of the other.
authors.affiliation: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University, Rehovot, Israel. Electronic address: gad.baneth@mail.huji.ac.il.
authors.forename: Gad
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baneth
authors.affiliation: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Shimon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harrus
authors.affiliation: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University, Rehovot, Israel; Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA.
authors.forename: Arnon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gal
authors.affiliation: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Itamar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aroch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003044:Coccidia / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D060085:Coinfection; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D041061:Ehrlichia canis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D048508:Rhipicephalus sanguineus / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology
keywords: Anaplasma platys; Co-infection; Ehrlichia canis; Hepatozoon canis