Molecular survey and hematological changes of Ehrlichia canis in a tick infested dogs by the first time in Isfahan province, Iran

Background and Aim : Ehrlichia canis has a worldwide geographic distribution, but little is known about the occurrence of Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis in Isfahan province, Iran. The current study was carried out to evaluate the presence of E. canis in blood samples of two hundred and fourteen guard and sheepdogs in Isfahan, using the PCR technique. Dogs are infected to this rickettsia by dog’s brown tick or Rhipicephalus sanguineous bite. The tick has a horizontal transmission, and tick Maternal vertical transmission of the parasite is not approved yet.Methods : two hundred and fourteen blood samples of guard and sheepdogs in districts of Isfahan, Iran, with an average age of ۳.۵ years were selected randomly and examined. PCR was applied to analyze the extracted DNA from blood samples. Out of two hundred and fourteen guards and sheepdogs whose blood samples were examined using PCR.Results : ۲۶ samples were positive (۱۲.۱۴%). The positive samples consist of fourteen (۵۳.۸۴%) male and twelve female dogs (۴۶.۱۵%). Hematologic changes in infected samples were not recognizable. The prevalence values based on gender compared by chi-square and ages were compared by Fischer exact test.Conclusion : There was a significant difference between age groups older than three years (P=۰.۰۴۱). This study also demonstrated the importance of dogs as chief host and the ways of transmission of this rickettsia. The results demonstrate that the prevalence of E. canis is relatively high in dogs from the Isfahan province, Iran and the molecular study of E. canis prevalence in fifty-five blood samples of owners were negative.

کلیدواژه ها:

Ehrlichia canis ، Infected Dogs ، PCR ، Isfahan ، Iran