Molecular prevalence and risk factors for the occurrence of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis

Abstract

Evaluation of blood samples collected from 214 dogs from Ludhiana, Punjab (India) was performed for the presence of Ehrlichia canis using PCR-based assays targeting a portion of the 16S rRNA gene. Of the total samples subjected to routine blood smear examination, the morulae of E. canis were detected in 2.34% samples. Nested PCR assay produced amplicons of expected size (389 bp) specific for E. canis in 41.59% (89/214) of samples. The results of multivariate analysis showed that the prevalence of E. canis was higher in the summer as compared to the winter season (P = 0.031) and in dogs younger than six-month-old as compared to older dogs (P < 0.001), while breed and sex of the host were not significantly associated with the occurrence of the disease.