Epidemiology of Ehrlichia canis: hematological and biochemical aspects, associated factors, and molecular features in healthy dogs in Porto Seguro, Bahia, Brazil

• Autor(a) principal: Carvalho, Jamille Pinto dos Santos
• Data de Publicação: 2024
• Outros Autores: Calazans, Ana Paula Fernandes, Oliveira, Gabriela Mota Sena de, Alves, Lilia Fernandes, Santos, Larissa da Mata, Silva, Fernando Bellice, Munhoz, Alexandre Dias
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Semina. Ciências Agrárias (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://ojs.uel.br/revistas/uel/index.php/semagrarias/article/view/48789
• topic: Ticks; Tick-borne disease; Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis; Thrombocytopenia.; Carrapatos; Doença transmitida por carrapatos; Erliquiose monocítica canina; Trombocitopenia.

This cross-sectional observational study aimed to investigate the frequency, associated factors, and assess the hematological and biochemical alterations of E. canis infection in 396 healthy, household dogs in Porto Seguro, Bahia. In addition to blood sample collection, further information on the dogs' intrinsic and extrinsic characteristics was obtained through semi-structured interviews with their owners to identify factors associated with infection. DNA extraction from blood samples and testing for E. canis were performed using the nested PCR technique. The frequency of E. canis found was 30.8% (122/396). It was observed that thrombocytopenia (p<0.05) was the most evident hematological alteration among dogs infected with E. canis. It was also found that positive dogs are more likely to have thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, and anemia than negative animals (p<0.05). The logistic regression model revealed the presence of ticks (odds ratio [OR] = 1.66; confidence interval [CI]: 1.05 - 2.63; p-value = 0.03) and living in urban areas (OR = 1.90; CI: 1.19 - 3.04; p-value = 0.007) were risk factors for infection, while living near deforested areas (OR = 0.56; CI: 0.31 - 0.99; p-value = 0.05) and being kept indoors (OR = 0.51; CI: 0.31 - 0.85; p-value = 0.01) were identified as protective factors. The high frequency of E. canis, combined with thrombocytopenia and associated factors that signal the need for tick control measures and diagnostic testing for the infection, contribute to a better understanding of the local epidemiology of the infection.