Authors
1 Associate Professor of Clinical Sciences Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman, Iran Associate Professor, Zoonosis Research Committee, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
2 Associate Professor of Pathobiology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman, Iran Zoonosis Research Committee, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
3 Researcher, Research Center for Modeling in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
4 Researcher, Zoonosis Research Committee, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
5 Instructor of Epidemiology, Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Instructor, Zoonosis Research Committee, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Abstract
Background and Aims: Ehrlichiosis is an emerging tick-borne zoonotic disease caused by the gramnegative
coccid obligate intracellular bacteria of the family Anaplasmataceae. Since the only available
evidence in regard to monocytic Ehrlichiosis in Iran is related to dogs, the present study was designed to use
the polymerase chain reaction assay for confirming the presence of Ehrlichia spp. in tick infested clientowned
dogs in Kerman.
Methods: Blood samples were prepared randomly from 100 owned tick infested dogs regardless of clinical
status. Complete blood count was done for each sample and in the next step, DNA extraction was done and
PCR was carried out by a commercial kit.
Results: Six of 100 (6%) examined dogs were positive for Ehrlichia spp. based on PCR.
Conclusion: Results of the present study confirmed the presence of Ehrlichiosis as an emerging zoonotic
disease in Iran and dogs could be considered as a main reservoir for the disease. It is recommended to
determine the prevalence of Ehrlichiosis and the most prevalent Ehrlichia species in animal reservoirs,
vectors, and human population in different geographical regions of Iran in further epidemiological studies.
Keywords
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