Serological Evidence Supporting the Occurrence of Ehrlichia chaffeensis or a Closely Related Species in Brazilian Dogs

Bibliographic Details
Title: Serological Evidence Supporting the Occurrence of Ehrlichia chaffeensis or a Closely Related Species in Brazilian Dogs
Authors: Isis Indaiara Gonçalves Granjeiro Taques, Andreia Lima Tomé Melo, Mauricio Claudio Horta, Nathalia Assis Pereira, Daniel Moura Aguiar
Source: Pathogens, Vol 12, Iss 8, p 1024 (2023)
Publisher Information: MDPI AG, 2023.
Publication Year: 2023
Collection: LCC:Medicine
Subject Terms: ehrlichiosis, canine, serology, TRP32, ELISA, diagnosis, Medicine
More Details: Ehrlichia chaffeensis is a tick-borne bacterium that causes human monocytotropic ehrlichiosis, an emerging life-threatening disease in humans transmitted by Amblyomma americanum. Although most studies have reported bacterial isolations and clinical cases in the United States, their occurrence is not restricted to North America. Some studies in the Southern Cone of South America have molecularly detected a close phylogenetic relative of E. chaffeensis in ticks and wild mammals. Even so, many gaps must be filled to confirm the presence of this agent in the region. To add new data on this issue, we report the first detection of specific anti-E. chaffeensis antibodies in dogs collected from all regions of Brazil. By means of IFA and ELISA with crude and specific antigens of E. chaffeensis, sera from 1134 dogs were analyzed. Serological analyses using ELISA showed nine (0.7%) seropositive dogs, with seven of them exhibiting IFA titers ranging from 160 to 5120. All regions of Brazil had at least one seropositive dog. Our results support the evidence for the occurrence of E. chaffeensis in South America. As dogs have a close relationship with humans, they can be used as an environmental sentinel for these infections because they can act as a bridge to human parasitism or infection with ehrlichial agents.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2076-0817
Relation: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/8/1024; https://doaj.org/toc/2076-0817
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12081024
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/2bfc1c65af0c4cba9aad47a710ddf87e
Accession Number: edsdoj.2bfc1c65af0c4cba9aad47a710ddf87e
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:20760817
DOI:10.3390/pathogens12081024
Published in:Pathogens
Language:English