Demonstrating the presence of Ehrlichia canis DNA from different tissues of dogs with suspected subclinical ehrlichiosis
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RESEARCH
Demonstrating the presence of Ehrlichia canis DNA from different tissues of dogs with suspected subclinical ehrlichiosis Carlos A. Rodríguez‑Alarcón1 , Diana M. Beristain‑Ruiz1*, Angélica Olivares‑Muñoz2, Andrés Quezada‑Casasola1, Federico Pérez‑Casio1, Jesús A. Álvarez‑Martínez3, Jane Tapia‑Alanís1, José J. Lira‑Amaya3, Ramón Rivera‑Barreno1, Orlando S. Cera‑Hurtado1, José A. Ibancovichi‑Camarillo4, Luis Soon‑Gómez5, Jaime R. Adame‑Gallegos6 and Julio V. Figueroa‑Millán3
Abstract Background: Nowadays, Ehrlichia canis receives increasing attention because of its great morbidity and mortality in animals. Dogs in the subclinical and chronic phases can be asymptomatic, and serological tests show cross-reactivity and fail to differentiate between current and past infections. Moreover, there could be low parasitaemia, and E. canis might be found only in target organs, hence causing results to be negative by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on blood samples. Methods: We evaluated by PCR the prevalence of E. canis in blood, liver, spleen, lymph node and bone marrow sam‑ ples of 59 recently euthanised dogs that had ticks but were clinically healthy. Results: In total, 52.55% of the blood PCRs for E. canis were negative, yet 61.30% yielded positive results from tissue biopsies and were as follows: 63.15% from bone marrow; 52.63% from liver; 47.36% from spleen; and 15.78% from lymph node. In addition, 33% had infection in three tissues (spleen, liver and bone marrow). Conclusions: Our results show the prevalence of E. canis from tissues of dogs that were negative by blood PCR. Ehrlichia canis DNA in tissue was 30% lower in dogs that tested negative in PCR of blood samples compared to those that were positive. However, it must be taken into account that some dogs with negative results were positive for E. canis in other tissues. Keywords: Ehrlichia canis, Biopsies, Spleen, Bone marrow, Liver, Lymph node Background Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) is caused by Ehrlichia canis, an intracellular parasitic bacterium and tickborne pathogen. Recently, this pathogen has received further attention because it has led to increasing morbidity and mortality in animals [1]. Transmission is mediated *Correspondence: [email protected] 1 Veterinary Science Department, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Anillo Envolvente y Estocolmo s/n, Zona PRONAF, 32310 Juárez, México Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
by the tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus (sensu lato), and, before infection, the bacteria replicate in monocytes and macrophages [2]. Clinical presentation of CME results in acute, chronic or subclinical phases, with several clinical manifestations. The acute phase persists for 2–4 weeks [3] and is characterised by signs in diverse systems, yet the most common are fever, weight loss, anorexia, depression, lymphadenomegaly, splenomegaly and vasculitis [4]. In addition, dogs in this phase show thrombocytopenia as the most common laboratory abnormality [5]
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