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Canine Infection by Rickettsiae and Ehrlichiae in Southern Brazil

This study evaluated the infection caused by Rickettsia and Ehrlichia agents among dogs in southern Brazil. A total of 389 dogs were tested by the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia parkeri, Rickettsia amblyommii, Rickettsia rhipicephali, Rickettsia bellii, and Ehrlichia canis. Overall, 42.4% (165/389) of the dogs were seroreactive to at least one Rickettsia species, but only 11 canine sera reacted with another Rickettsia species without reacting with R. parkeri. A total of 100 (25.7%) canine sera showed titers to R. parkeri at least 4-fold higher than those to any of the other rickettsial antigens, allowing us to consider that these dogs were infected by R. parkeri. Dogs that had direct contact with pasture or forest areas were > 2 times more likely to be seroreactive to Rickettsia than dogs with no such direct contact. Only 19 (4.8%) of the 389 dogs were seroreactive to E. canis.

Received January 7, 2008. Accepted for publication March 28, 2008.

Financial support: This work was supported by Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP research grant to MBL), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq academic career scholarship to MBL and FF), and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES graduating scholarships to TBS and NAC).

^* Address correspondence to Marcelo B. Labruna, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP 05508-270, Brazil. E-mail: labruna{at}usp.br

Authors’ addresses: Taís B. Saito, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP 05508-270, Brazil, Tel: 55-11-3091-1403, E-mail: tbsaito{at}gmail.com. Nilton A. Cunha-Filho, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil, Tel: 55-53-3275-7381, E-mail: niltonacfilho{at}hotmail.com. Richard C. Pacheco, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP 05508-270, Brazil, Tel: 55-11-3091-7701, E-mail: pachecorichard{at}yahoo.com.br. Fernando Ferreira, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP 05508-270, Brazil, Tel: 55-11-3091-9937, E-mail: fernando{at}vps.fmvz.usp.br. Felipe G. Pappen, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil, Tel: 55-53-3275-7381, E-mail: felipepappen{at}hotmail.com. Nara A. R. Farias, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil, Tel: 55-53-3275-7381, E-mail: nafarias{at}ufpel.tche.br. Carlos E. Larsson, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP 05508-270, Brazil, Tel: 55-11-3091-1276, E-mail: larsderm{at}usp.br. Marcelo B. Labruna, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP 05508-270, Brazil, Tel: 55-11-3091-1394, Fax: 55-11-3091-7928, E-mail: labruna{at}usp.br.