Year: 2018 | Month: October | Volume 8 | Issue 5
Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Ehrlichia canis in Dogs of Jammu Region
Abstract:
The present study was conducted on dogs presented to Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Jammu, between March 2015 and December 2016. A total of 5711 dogs were presented for treatment in small animal medicine OPD of Referral Veterinary Hospital of the Faculty of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Jammu. Out of which a total of 200 dogs suspected to be suffering from various Tick borne diseases (TBD’s) were screened and 100 were found positive for different TBD’s, of which 36 were found positive for Ehrlichia canis (E. canis). The prevalence of Ehrlichia canis was found to be 36 percent (based on PCR) with maximum occurrence in summer. 13 cases were found positive in giemsa stained thin blood smear. PCR was performed using standard protocol. In SNAP4Dx plus kit 30 out of 60 cases (50 %) were found positive. Males (63.88 %) were more affected than female with highest prevalence in Labrador breed. Dogs in the age group of (1 - 5 year) (72.23%) were found most susceptible to E. canis. Canine ehrlichiosis causes acute febrile illness in dogs but subclinical stage, lasting months to years, is not associated with clinical signs of illness and therefore may go unnoticed by pet owners and undiagnosed by veterinarians unless antibodies are detected during annual screening with in-clinical kits. Therefore, it is not possible to rely on a single serological result for diagnosis of E. canis, it may be concluded that PCR is most reliable method, useful in the clinical laboratory for specific and early diagnosis of ehrlichiosis in dogs.
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