Abstract
The prevalences of antibodies against Bartonella henselae and Ehrlichia canis were determined in sera from 228 dogs in 5 communal lands of Zimbabwe, areas where traditional subsistence agro-pastoralism is practised. The sera were collected from apparently healthy dogs during routine rabies vaccination programmes and tested with indirect fluorescent antibody assays using B. henselae (Houston-I) and E. canis (Oklahoma) as antigens. We found reactive antibodies (> or =1:80) against B. henselae in 14% of the dogs tested. Seropositive animals were found in Bikita (41%; 17/42), Omay (13%; 6/48), Chinamora (5%; 2/38) and Matusadona (15%; 7/48). No seropositive dogs were found in Chiredzi (0%; 0/52). Antibodies reactive with E. canis (> or =1:80) were found in 34% of the dogs tested, from Bikita (88%; 37/42), Chiredzi (31%; 16/52), Omay (17%; 8/48), Chinamora (26%; 10/38) and Matusadona (15%; 7/48). Our survey shows dogs in the communal lands of Zimbabwe are frequently exposed to E. canis and B. henselae or closely related species. Further studies are indicated to determine the pathogenicity of the organisms infecting these dogs and their clinical significance.
Highlights
Ehrlichia canis is a Gram-negative bacterium that is an agent of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis[29]
Indirect fluorescent antibody assays Dogs with antibodies against E. canis were found in all the communal lands sampled (Table 2) and seroprevalences varied from 15 % (7/48 in Matusadona) to 88 % (37/42 in Bikita)
Dogs with antibodies against B. henselae were found in all communal lands apart from Chiredzi (Table 3)
Summary
Ehrlichia canis is a Gram-negative bacterium that is an agent of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis[29]. Most dogs survive the acute stage and enter the subclinical phase of the disease, which might last for years. During this phase, animals are apparently healthy thrombocytopaenia is common. Dogs may spontaneously eliminate E. canis during the subclinical phase[6,21] or go on to develop the chronic phase of the disease in which there is marked weight loss and signs resulting from pancytopaenia. While serosurveys have shown that high percentages of urban dogs in Zimbabwe have antibodies reactive with aInstitute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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