First description of natural Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma platys infections in dogs from Argentina

EIRAS DF; CRAVIOTTO MB; VEZZANI D; EYAL O; BANETH G

COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2013 vol. 36 p. 169 - 173

0147-9571

Bacteria belonging to the Anaplasmataceae family are vector transmitted agents that affect avariety of vertebrate hosts including the tick-borne pathogens Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasmaplatys, which cause canine monocytic ehrlichiosis and cyclic thrombocytopenia, respectively.These two infections, typically reported from tropical and sub-tropical regions, havenot been previously reported in dogs from Argentina. A total of 86 blood samples fromdogs with suspected rickettsial disease and 28 non-suspected dogs were studied. Analysisincluded evaluation of hematological findings, PCR for Ehrlichia and Anaplasma speciesand sequencing of the positive PCR products. E. canis was detected in the blood of six dogsand A. platys in eighteen. All the dogs categorized as non-suspected were negative by PCR.Co-infection with Hepatozoon canis and Babesia vogeli was documented. This first reportof E. canis and A. platys infections in dogs from Argentina indicates that these tick-borneinfections have a considerably broader range than previously recognized in South America.