Open AccessAntibodies to Ehrlichia canis, Ehrlichia platys , and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae in Louisiana Dogs
Author(s) -
Hoskins Johnny D.,
Breitschwerdt Edward B.,
Gaunt Stephen D.,
French Tracy W.,
Burgdorfer Willy
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of veterinary internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.356
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1939-1676
pISSN - 0891-6640
DOI - 10.1111/j.1939-1676.1988.tb02793.x
Subject(s) - ehrlichia canis , ehrlichia , canis , rickettsia , medicine , boutonneuse fever , titer , antibody , virology , spotted fever , immunology , biology , virus , serology , tick , paleontology
Antibodies to Ehrlichia canis, Ehrlichia platys, and spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae were detected by indirect immunofluorescence in sera from 27 ill individually owned thrombocytopenic dogs (platelet concentrations less than 200,000 platelets/μl) and 59 healthy kenneled dogs located in southern Louisiana. Platelet concentrations less than 100,000 platelets/ were detected in 63% of ill thrombocytopenic dogs and 6.8% of healthy kennel dogs. One ill thrombocytopenic dog had intracytoplasmic E platys morulae detected within platelets. The prevalence of increased serum antibody titers to E canis and E platys was 25.9% and 40.7% for the ill thrombocytopenic dogs and 20.3% and 54.2% for the healthy kennel dogs, respectively. All dogs with seropositivity to E canis had increased antibody titers of greater than or equal to 1:100 to E platys. Simultaneous examination of increased serum antibody titers (greater than or equal to 1:64) to four SFG rickettsiae indicate that Rickettsia rhipicephali and Rickettsia montana accounted for the majority of the antibodies detected in these dogs. Of 86 dogs tested, 44.2% were seronegative to E canis, E platys, and SFG rickettsiae.