Risk factors and clinical disorders of canine ehrlichiosis in the South of Bahia, Brazil Fatores de risco e alterações clínicas da erhlichiose canina no sul da Bahia, Brasil

The aim of this work was to study the clinical disorders and risk factors of canine ehrlichiosis in Ilhéus and Itabuna, Bahia, and compare different diagnostic methods. Blood samples were collected from 200 dogs. Each dog was clinically examined. A questionnaire was used to evaluate the risk factors. The blood samples were analyzed using the Dot-ELISA test; hematometry, platelet counts and searches for morulae on blood smears were performed. Nested PCR was carried out on 50 serologically positive samples and 50 negative samples. Three positive PCRs were sequenced. Thirty-six percent were serologically positivity and 5.5% from blood smears. The animals were anemic and thrombocytopenic. Presence of ticks and living in areas on the urban periphery were considered to be risk factors (p < 0.05). Nested PCR identified 11 positive dogs of which nine were serologically positive and two were negative. The DNA sequencing was consistent with the presence of Ehrlichia canis.<br>Objetivou-se com este trabalho estudar as alterações clínicas, fatores de risco da ehrlichiose canina nos municípios de Ilhéus e Itabuna, Bahia, e comparar diferentes métodos de diagnóstico. Amostras de sangue foram coletadas de 200 cães e cada animal foi examinado clinicamente. Foi preenchido um questionário para avaliar os fatores de risco. As amostras de sangue foram analisadas pelo teste Dot-ELISA e foram realizadas hematimetria, contagem de plaquetas e procura de mórulas em esfregaço de sangue. Nested-PCR foi realizada em 50 amostras positivas e 50 negativas na sorologia. Três amostras PCRs positivas foram seqüenciadas. Foi encontrado 36,0% de positividade na sorologia e 5,5% nos esfregaços sanguíneos. Os animais apresentavam anemia e trombocitopenia. Ter carrapatos e residir em áreas suburbanas foram considerados fatores de risco (p < 0,05). A Nested-PCR identificou 11 cães positivos, sendo 9 com sorologia positiva e 2 negativos. O sequenciamento de DNA foi compatível com a presença de Ehrlichia canis