Molecular Detection of Ehrlichia canis in the Pet-Dog Population in R. N. Macedonia

Elena Atanaskova Petrov,Igor Djadjovski,Zagorka Popova,Irena Celeska,Kiril Krstevski

doi:10.2478/acve-2021-0020

Elena Atanaskova Petrov, Igor Djadjovski + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.2478/acve-2021-0020

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Abstract

Abstract Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) is a widespread, tick-borne, canine disease, caused by an obligate intracellular bacterium, Ehrlichia canis. The main vector, a brown-dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, is widely distributed, especially in areas with tropic, subtropic, or Mediterranean climates (Central and South America, Eastern and Western Asia, Africa, Australia and Southern Europe). The study performed in 2012, by Stefanovska et al., determined a seroprevalence of 18.7% of E. canis among the Macedonian dog population. Up to date, the presence of E. canis, using molecular diagnostic methods, has not been investigated in Macedonia. Therefore, this study aimed to confirm the presence of E. canis, in the pet-dog population on the territory of the city of Skopje, North Macedonia, using a highly sensitive multiplex Real-Time PCR method (qPCR). Whole blood samples from 80 dogs of different breeds and ages, with clinical symptoms of CME and positive serology result for the presence of antibodies against E.canis, were collected for analyses. Out of 80 dogs, 36 (45%) were found as positive. The present work reports the first molecular detection of E. canis in pet dogs on the territory of the city of Skopje, Macedonia.

Highlights

Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) is a widespread, tick-borne, canine disease, caused by an obligate intracellular bacterium, Ehrlichia canis
The targeted group was pet dogs brought to the University Veterinary Clinic (UVC) at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine – Skopje (FVMS), and several other private veterinary clinics on the territory of the city of Skopje, exhibiting clinical symptoms characteristic for tick-borne diseases, and hematological alterations with the presence of thrombocytopenia and/or anemia
[28] The protocol is designed to amplify a short sequence within the 16S rRNA of E. canis, and the canine beta actin gene (ACTB) as an internal control (IC). Even though this protocol detects E. ewingii and E. chaffeensis, as well, аs neither the presence of competent vectors nor the pathogens themselves have been confirmed in Europe so far, we considered the positive amplification of the 16S rRNA fragment of Erlichia genom to be specific for E. canis

Summary

Introduction

Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) is a widespread, tick-borne, canine disease, caused by an obligate intracellular bacterium, Ehrlichia canis. The other two closely related species, Ehrlichia ewingii, and Ehrlichia chaffeensis, are known to infect dogs, as well, causing similar but milder clinical diseases [1]. The main vector of E. canis, a brown-dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, is widely distributed, especially in the areas with tropic, subtropic or Mediterranean climates (Central and South America, Eastern and Western Asia, Africa, Australia, and Southern Europe) [2,3,4]. Besides causing the disease in dogs, E. canis has a zoonotic potential. Atanaskova Petrov et al.: Molecular detection of Ehrlichia canis in the pet-dog population in R. The epidemiological importance of E. ewinvii and E. chaffeensis seems to be limited only to North America, because the presence of their vectors, Amblyomma americanum and Dermacentor variabilis ticks, has not been reported outside this continent [6]

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