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Beall MJ, Alleman AR, Breitschwerdt EB, Cohn LA, Couto CG, Dryden MW, Guptill LC, Iazbik C, Kania SA, Lathan P, Little SE, Roy A, Sayler KA, Stillman BA, Welles EG, Wolfson W, Yabsley MJ. Seroprevalence of Ehrlichia canis, Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Ehrlichia ewingii in dogs in North America. Parasit Vectors 2012; 5:29. [PMID: 22316160 PMCID: PMC3298699 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2011] [Accepted: 02/08/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study evaluated the exposure of dogs to three different Ehrlichia spp. in the south and central regions of the United States where vector-borne disease prevalence has been previously difficult to ascertain, particularly beyond the metropolitan areas. METHODS Dog blood samples (n = 8,662) were submitted from 14 veterinary colleges, 6 private veterinary practices and 4 diagnostic laboratories across this region. Samples were tested for E. canis, E. chaffeensis and E. ewingii specific antibodies using peptide microtiter ELISAs. RESULTS Overall, E. canis, E. chaffeensis and E. ewingii seroprevalence was 0.8%, 2.8%, and 5.1%, respectively. The highest E. canis seroprevalence (2.3%) was found in a region encompassing Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. E. chaffeensis seroreactivity was 6.6% in the central region (Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma) and 4.6% in the southeast region (Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia). Seroreactivity to E. ewingii was also highest in the central region (14.6%) followed by the southeast region (5.9%). The geospatial pattern derived from E. chaffeensis and E. ewingii seropositive samples was similar to previous reports based on E. chaffeensis seroreactivity in white-tailed deer and the distribution of human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME) cases reported by the CDC. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study provide the first large scale regional documentation of exposure to E. canis, E. chaffeensis and E. ewingii in pet dogs, highlighting regional differences in seroprevalence and providing the basis for heightened awareness of these emerging vector-borne pathogens by veterinarians and public health agencies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - A Rick Alleman
- University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Ed B Breitschwerdt
- North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Leah A Cohn
- University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - C Guillermo Couto
- The Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Michael W Dryden
- Kansas State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Lynn C Guptill
- Purdue University, College of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Cristina Iazbik
- The Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Stephen A Kania
- University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Patty Lathan
- Mississippi State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State, MS, USA
| | - Susan E Little
- Oklahoma State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Stillwater, OK, USA
| | - Alma Roy
- Louisiana State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Katherine A Sayler
- University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | | | - Wendy Wolfson
- Louisiana State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Michael J Yabsley
- University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, USA
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