Hematological values associated to the serological and molecular diagnostic in cats suspected of Ehrlichia canis infection

The literature contains several studies on feline ehrlichiosis. However, information about the characteristics of Ehrlichia infection in cats is still scanty. This study evaluated the association between Ehrlichia spp. infection and the hematologic data of 93 cats treated at the Federal University o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria 2013-10, Vol.22 (4), p.470-474
Main Authors: Braga, Isis Assis, dos Santos, Luana Gabriela Ferreira, Melo, Andréia Lima Tomé, Jaune, Felipe Wolf, Ziliani, Thaysa Felfili, Girardi, Angela Ferronatto, de Aguiar, Daniel Moura
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Cat Diseases - blood
Cat Diseases - diagnosis
Cat Diseases - microbiology
Cats
Ehrlichia canis
Ehrlichiosis - blood
Ehrlichiosis - diagnosis
Ehrlichiosis - veterinary
Female
Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
Male
Molecular Diagnostic Techniques
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Serologic Tests
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Summary:The literature contains several studies on feline ehrlichiosis. However, information about the characteristics of Ehrlichia infection in cats is still scanty. This study evaluated the association between Ehrlichia spp. infection and the hematologic data of 93 cats treated at the Federal University of Mato Grosso Veterinary Hospital in Cuiabá, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The presence of or exposure to Ehrlichia spp. infection was evaluated by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) targeting the dsb and 16S rRNA gene of Ehrlichia, and by detection of anti-Ehrlichia canis IgG antibodies in Indirect Fluorescence Assay (IFA), respectively. Eight (8.6%) cats tested positive by PCR and the partial DNA sequence obtained from PCR products was a 100% match to E. canis. Forty-two (45.1%) cats showed antibody reactivity against Ehrlichia spp. Hematological alterations such as low erythrocyte count, thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia and monocytosis were observed in PCR positive cats. Among them, low erythrocyte counts were associated with IgG antibody titers of 40 to 640 and five cats also tested positive by PCR. Furthermore, PCR-positive cats showed a tendency to be lymphopenic. No correlation was found between age and sex, and no ticks were observed in any of the examined cats.
ISSN:1984-2961
DOI:10.1590/S1984-29612013000400005