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.
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
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
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.
References
This article includes 56 references
Aguiar DM, Saito TB, Hagiwara MK, Machado RZ, Labruna MB. Diagnóstico sorológico de erliquiose canina com antígeno brasileiro de Ehrlichia canis. Cienc Rural 2007;37:796–802.
Aragão HB, Fonseca F. Notas de Ixodologia. VIII. Lista e chave para os representantes da fauna ixodológica brasileira. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 1961;59:115–29.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Atlanta: National Center for Infectious Diseases; 2001. Division of viral and rickettsial diseases: indirect fluorescent antibody technique for the detection of rickettsial antibodies.
Calic SB, Galvão MAM, Bacellar F, Rocha CMBM, Mafra CL, Leite RC. Human ehrlichioses in Brazil: first suspect cases. Braz J Infect Dis 2004;8:259–62.
Chandrashekar R, Daniluk D, Moffitt S, Lorentzen L, Williams J. Serologic diagnosis of equine borreliosis: evaluation of an In-Clinic Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (SNAP® 4Dx®). Int J Appl Res Vet Med 2008;6:145–50.
Chandrashekar R, Mainville CA, Beall MJ, O'Connor T, Eberts MD, Alleman AR. Performance of a commercially available in-clinic ELISA for the detection of antibodies against Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia canis, and Borrelia burgdorferi and Dirofilaria immitis antigen in dogs. Am J Vet Res 2010;71:1443–50.
Cocco R, Sanna G, Cillara MG, Tola S, Ximenes L, Pinnaparpaglia ML. Ehrlichiosis and rickettsiosis in a canine population of Northern Sardinia. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2003;990:126–30.
Coimbra HS, Fernandes CG, Soares MP, Meireles MCA, Radamés R, Schuch LFD. Ehrlichiose monocítica equina no Rio Grande do Sul: aspectos clínicos, anátomo-patológicos e epidemiológicos. Pesq Vet Bras 2006;26:97–101.
Costa PSG, Brigatte ME, Greco DB. Antibodies to Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia typhi, Coxiella burnetii, Bartonella henselae, Bartonella quintana, and Ehrlichia chaffeensis among healthy population in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2005;100:853–9.
Costa PSG, Valle LMC, Brigatte ME, Greco DB. More about human monocytotropic ehrlichiosis in Brazil: serological evidence of nine new cases. Braz J Infect Dis 2006;10:7–10.
Costa LMC Jr, Rembeck K, Ribeiro MFB, Beelitz P, Pfister K, Passos LMF. Seroprevalence and risk indicators for canine ehrlichiosis in three rural areas of Brazil. Vet J 2007;174:673–6.
Couto CG, Lorentzen L, Beall MJ, Shields J, Bertolone N, Couto JI. Serological study of selected vector-borne diseases in shelter dogs in central Spain using point-of-care assays. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2010;10:885–8.
Dumler JS, Barbet AF, Bekker CPJ, Dasch GA, Palmer GH, Ray SC. Reorganization of genera in the families Rickettsiaceae and Anaplasmataceae in the order Rickettsiales: unification of some species of Ehrlichia with Anaplasma, Cowdria with Ehrlichia and Ehrlichia with Neorickettsia, descriptions of six new species combinations and designation of Ehrlichia equi and ‘HGE agent’ as subjective synonyms of Ehrlichia phagocytophila. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2001;51:2145–65.
Ferrão CN, Aboud-Dutra AE, Lopes RS, Candeias ML, Gazêta GS. Equine monocytic ehrlichiosis (EME) in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Arq Bras Med Vet Zootec 2007;59:1575–8.
Galvão MAM, Lamounier JA, Bonomo E, Tropia MS, Rezende EG, Calic SB. Rickettsioses emergentes e reemergentes numa região endêmica do estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Cad Saúde Pública 2002;18:1593–7.
Machado RZ, André MR, Werther K, de Sousa E, Gavioli FA, Alves JR, Junior. Migratory and carnivorous birds in Brazil: reservoirs for Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species?. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2012;12(8):705–8.
Maurizi L, Marié JL, Aoun O, Courtin C, Gorsane S, Chal D. Seroprevalence survey of equine lyme borreliosis in France and Sub-Saharan Africa. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2010;10:535–7.
Melo ALT, Martins TF, Horta MC, Moraes-Filho J, Pacheco RC, Labruna MB. Seroprevalence and risk factors to Ehrlichia spp. and Rickettsia spp. in dogs from the Pantanal Region of Mato Grosso State, Brazil. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2011;2:213–8.
Ndip LM, Labruna M, Ndip RN, Walker DH, McBride JW. Molecular and clinical evidence of Ehrlichia chaffeensis infection in Cameroonian patients with undifferentiated febrile illness. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 2009;103:719–25.
O'Connor TP, Hanscom JL, Hegarty BC, Groat RG, Breitschwerdt EB. Comparison of an indirect immunofluorescence assay, Western blot analysis, and a commercially available ELISA for detection of Ehrlichia canis antibodies in canine sera. Am J Vet Res 2006;67:206–10.
Onofrio VC, Barros-Battesti DM, Labruna MB, Faccini JL. Diagnoses of and illustrated key to the species of Ixodes Latreille, 1795 (Acari: Ixodidae) from Brazil. Syst Parasitol 2009;72:143–57.
Perez M, Rikihisa Y, Wen B. Ehrlichia canis-like agent isolated from a man in Venezuela: antigenic and genetic characterization. J Clin Microbiol 1996;34:2133–9.
Perez M, Bodor M, Zhang C, Xiong Q, Rikihisa Y. Human infection with Ehrlichia canis accompanied by clinical signs in Venezuela. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2006;1078:110–7.
Rikihisa Y. Cross-reacting antigens between Neorickettsia helmithoeca and Ehrlichia species, shown by immunofluorescence and Western immunoblotting. J Clin Microbiol 1991;29:2024–9.
Rikihisa Y, Dumler JS, Dasch GA. Neorickettsia. In: Brenner DJ, Staley JT, Garrity GM, editors. The Proteobacteria, Part C, Bergey's manual of systematic bacteriology. New York: Springer; 2005. pp. 132–7.
Souza BMPS, Leal DC, Barboza DCPM, Uzêda RS, De Alcântara AC, Ferreira F. Prevalence of ehrlichial infection among dogs and ticks in Northeastern Brazil. Rev Bras Parasitol Vet 2010;19:89–93.
Toledo RS, Tamekuni K, Haydu VB, Vidotto O. Dinâmica sazonal de carrapatos do gênero Amblyomma (Acari: Ixodidae) em um parque urbano da cidade de Londrina, PR. Rev Bras Parasitol Vet 2008;17(Suppl 1):50–4.
Trapp SM, Dagnone AS, Vidotto O, Freire RL, Amude AM, Morais HS. Seroepidemiology of canine babesiosis and ehrlichiosis in a hospital population. Vet Parasitol 2006;140((3/4)):223–30.
Yabsley MJ. Natural history of Ehrlichia chaffeensis: vertebrate hosts and tick vectors from the United States and evidence for endemic transmission in other countries. Vet Parasitol 2010;167:136–48.
Guillemi EC, Orozco MM, Figini I, Blanco P, Farber MD. Molecular detection of Ehrlichia chaffeensis in marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) and their parasitic Amblyomma triste ticks in Argentina suggests a local transmission cycle. Parasit Vectors 2026 Jan 2;19(1):63.
Kargbo A, Osman AM, Jawo E, Fatty LKM, Collere FCM, André MR, Hassan-Kadle AA, Vieira TSWJ, Machado RZ, Vieira RFC. Ticks and tick-borne bacterial pathogens found on hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on cattle in the Central River region of The Gambia. Med Vet Entomol 2026 Mar;40(1):91-100.
Greca Junior H, Machado CD, Kmetiuk LB, de França DA, Rodrigues NJL, Chechia do Couto A, Langoni H, Monti G, Biondo AW. Factors associated with the presence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies in persons experiencing homelessness in Brazil. Front Public Health 2025;13:1596684.
Rezaie N, Latifian M, Ghasemi A, Mahmoudi A, Baseri N, Omidi AH, Esmaeili P, Esmaeili S, Mostafavi E. Assessing the diversity of zoonotic bacterial agents in rodents and small mammals in Iran. Eur J Public Health 2025 Jan 1;35(Supplement_1):i41-i47.
Diakos AC, Bezerra TL, Borges-Silva W, Cedro MA, de Jesus RF, Aguiar DM, Mizuuti PJSG, Magalhães TBS, Pereira NA, Gondim LFP. Ehrlichia sp. in dairy cattle from Bahia, Brazil: high seropositivity rates and molecular confirmation of Ehrlichia minasensis. BMC Vet Res 2024 Dec 28;20(1):582.
Abdous A, Rahnama M, Shams F, Jokar M, Rahmanian V, Farhoodi M, Abbassioun A, Kamjoo MS. Prevalence of Anaplasma, Ehrlichia and Rickettsia infections in dogs in Iran: A meta-analysis study. Vet Med Sci 2024 Mar;10(2):e1381.
Constantino C, de Paula EF, Brandão AP, Ferreira F, Vieira RF, Biondo AW. Survey of spatial distribution of vector-borne disease in neighborhood dogs in southern Brazil. Open Vet J 2017;7(1):50-56.