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Home / Equine Research Bank / Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo / Serological survey of Ehrlichia species in dogs, horses and ...
Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo2013; 55(5); 335-340; doi: 10.1590/S0036-46652013000500007

Serological survey of Ehrlichia species in dogs, horses and humans: zoonotic scenery in a rural settlement from southern Brazil.

Abstract: The aims of this study were to determine the seroprevalence of Ehrlichia spp. and risk factors for exposure in a restricted population of dogs, horses, and humans highly exposed to tick bites in a Brazilian rural settlement using a commercial ELISA rapid test and two indirect immunofluorescent assays (IFA) with E. canis and E. chaffeensis crude antigens. Serum samples from 132 dogs, 16 horses and 100 humans were used. Fifty-six out of 132 (42.4%) dogs were seropositive for E. canis. Dogs > one year were more likely to be seropositive for E. canis than dogs ≤ one year (p = 0.0051). Ten/16 (62.5%) and 8/16 (50%) horses were seropositive by the commercial ELISA and IFA, respectively. Five out of 100 (5%) humans were seropositive for E. canis and E. chaffeensis. Rhipicephalus sanguineus (n = 291, 97.98%) on dogs and Amblyomma cajennense (n = 25, 96.15%) on horses were the most common ticks found. In conclusion, anti-Ehrlichia spp. antibodies were found in horses; however, the lack of a molecular characterization precludes any conclusion regarding the agent involved. Additionally, the higher seroprevalence of E. canis in dogs and the evidence of anti-Ehrlichia spp. antibodies in humans suggest that human cases of ehrlichiosis in Brazil might be caused by E. canis, or other closely related species. Objetivou-se determinar a soroprevalência de Ehrlichia spp. e os fatores de risco associados a exposição em uma população restrita de cães, cavalos e humanos altamente expostos a picadas de carrapatos em um assentamento rural brasileiro utilizando um teste comercial de ELISA rápido e dois testes de imunofluorescência indireta (IFI) com antígenos brutos de E. canis e E. chaffeensis. Amostras de soro de 132 cães, 16 cavalos e 100 humanos foram utilizadas. Cinquenta e seis/132 (42,4%) cães foram soropositivos para E. canis. Cães > um ano apresentaram mais chance de serem soropositivos para E. canis do que cães ≤ um ano (p = 0,0051). Dez/16 (62,5%) e 8/16 (50%) cavalos foram soropositivos pelo ELISA comercial e IFI, respectivamente. Cinco/100 (5%) humanos foram soropositivos para E. canis e E. chaffeensis. Rhipicephalus sanguineus (n = 291, 97,98%) nos cães e A. cajennense (n = 25, 96,15%) nos cavalos foram os carrapatos mais encontrados. Concluindo, anticorpos anti-Ehrlichia spp. foram encontrados em cavalos; entretanto, a ausência de uma caracterização molecular impede qualquer conclusão sobre agente envolvido. Além disso, a alta soroprevalência de E. canis em cães e a evidência de anticorpos anti-Ehrlichia sp. em humanos, sugere que os casos de erliquiose humana no Brasil possam ser causados por E. canis ou outra espécie intimamente relacionada.
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Publication Date: 2013-09-17 PubMed ID: 24037288PubMed Central: PMC4105071DOI: 10.1590/S0036-46652013000500007Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research article investigates the presence and risk factors of Ehrlichia spp., a tick-borne disease, in dogs, horses, and humans in a rural Brazilian community using various tests. They found antibodies for this species in horses and a high prevalence in dogs, suggesting potential human infection.

Understanding the Research

  • The study examines the seroprevalence and exposure risk factors of Ehrlichia species, a type of bacteria transmitted through tick bites, in a specific population of dogs, horses, and humans in a rural area of southern Brazil.
  • The researchers utilized a commercial ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) rapid test and two indirect immunofluorescent assays (IFA) with E. canis and E. chaffeensis, two species of the bacteria represented as crude antigens. These tests were used to demonstrate the presence of an antibody response to the bacteria in the tested samples.

Findings of the Study

  • The study used samples from 132 dogs, 16 horses, and 100 humans. Of the dogs, 42.4% were seropositive for E. canis. Dogs older than one year were more likely than those one year or younger to test positive for E. canis.
  • Regarding the horses, 62.5% and 50% were seropositive according to the ELISA and IFA tests, respectively. However, the lack of molecular characterization remains a limitation to definitively identify the specific Ehrlichia agent involved.
  • Out of the human samples, 5% tested positive for both E. canis and E. chaffeensis.
  • The most common ticks found were Rhipicephalus sanguineus on dogs (97.98%) and Amblyomma cajennense on horses (96.15%).

Conclusions and Implications

  • Despite the presence of anti-Ehrlichia spp. antibodies in horses, the researchers could not conclusively determine the specific bacterial agent due to the absence of a molecular characterization component in their study methodology.
  • The results demonstrated a significant prevalence of E. canis in dogs, along with the detection of anti-Ehrlichia spp. antibodies in the human samples. This suggests that the cases of human ehrlichiosis (the disease caused by Ehrlichia bacteria) in this part of Brazil may be caused by E. canis or a closely related species.
  • This finding indicates the potential risk of zoonotic transmission, where the disease is passed from animals (dogs and potentially horses) to humans. It highlights the importance of further research and proactive measures to prevent Ehrlichia spp. infection.

Cite This Article

APA
Vieira RF, Vieira TS, Nascimento Ddo A, Martins TF, Krawczak FS, Labruna MB, Chandrashekar R, Marcondes M, Biondo AW, Vidotto O. (2013). Serological survey of Ehrlichia species in dogs, horses and humans: zoonotic scenery in a rural settlement from southern Brazil. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo, 55(5), 335-340. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0036-46652013000500007

Publication

Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo
ISSN: 1678-9946
NlmUniqueID: 7507484
Country: Brazil
Language: English
Volume: 55
Issue: 5
Pages: 335-340

Researcher Affiliations

Vieira, Rafael Felipe da Costa
  • Departmento de Ciências Veterinárias, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 58397-000AreiaParaíba, Brazil.
Vieira, Thállitha Samih Wischral Jayme
    Nascimento, Denise do Amaral Gomes
      Martins, Thiago F
        Krawczak, Felipe S
          Labruna, Marcelo B
            Chandrashekar, Ramaswamy
              Marcondes, Mary
                Biondo, Alexander Welker
                  Vidotto, Odilon

                    MeSH Terms

                    • Adolescent
                    • Adult
                    • Aged
                    • Animals
                    • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
                    • Brazil
                    • Child
                    • Child, Preschool
                    • DNA, Bacterial / analysis
                    • Dogs / immunology
                    • Dogs / microbiology
                    • Ehrlichia / classification
                    • Ehrlichia / immunology
                    • Ehrlichia / isolation & purification
                    • Female
                    • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
                    • Horses / immunology
                    • Horses / microbiology
                    • Humans
                    • Male
                    • Middle Aged
                    • Polymerase Chain Reaction
                    • Rhipicephalus sanguineus / microbiology
                    • Risk Factors
                    • Rural Population
                    • Seasons
                    • Young Adult

                    Conflict of Interest Statement

                    Conflict of Interest: The authors have declared that there are no conflicting interests.

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