Journal
VETERINARY JOURNAL
Volume 179, Issue 1, Pages 145-148Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.08.017
Keywords
Ehrlichia canis; Anaplasma platys; babesia spp; Nested PCR; Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis
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Funding
- Fundacao de Amparo Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo [04/14196-5, 05/03953-2]
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Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis caused by Ehrlichia canis is endemic in many regions of Brazil. Since thrombocytopenia is it common finding in infected dogs, many clinicians tend to use it as an indication for antibiotic treatment. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nested PCR were used to study the presence of E canis, Anaplasma platys and Babesia spp. in thrombocytopenic and non-thrombocytopenic dogs from Ribeirao Preto, Brazil. Despite the high prevalence of E canis infection among thrombocytopenic dogs, 46.7% of the thrombocytopenic dogs studied were either infected with Babesia spp. or A. platys or not infected with any of the three pathogens. There was a high incidence (25.4%) of E canis infection in non-thrombocytopenic dogs. Although infection with E. canis Should be considered in thrombocytopenic dogs, the final diagnosis needs to be confirmed by complementary tests such as blood smears and PCR to avoid the unnecessary use of antibiotics. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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