Ehrlichia canis em cães atendidos em hospital veterinário de Botucatu, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

Abstract

This study investigated the etiology of canine ehrlichiosis and possible clinical and epidemiological data associated with the infection in 70 dogs suspect of ehrlichiosis attended at the Veterinary Hospital of the São Paulo State University in Botucatu city during 2001 and 2002. Dogs were evaluated by clinical-epidemiological and hematological data and molecular analysis by partial amplifcation and DNA sequencing of the ehrlichial dsb gene. E. canis DNA was amplifed and sequenced in 28 (40.0%) dogs. Dogs younger than 12 months old showed signifcantly higher infection rates (65.0%; P < 0.05). Diarrhea, apathy, and anorexia were the major clinical signs observed in 55.2% (P = 0.05), 47.0% (P > 0.05), and 42.4% (P > 0.05) of the PCR-positive dogs, respectively. Twenty-fve anemic (<5.5 × 10 6 RBC.μL -1), and 8 leukopenic (<5.5 × 10 3 WBC.μL -1) dogs were PCR-positive (P > 0.05). All 28 PCR-positive dogs showed thrombocytopenia (<175 × 10 3 platelets.μL -1) and revealed statistical signifcance (P < 0.05). E. canis was the only Ehrlichia species found in dogs in the studied region, with higher infection rates in younger dogs, and statistically associated with thrombocytopenia.