Serological evidence for Ehrlichia canis exposure in military dogs and other canines in metropolitan Manila, Philippines

Issue Date

12-2011

Abstract

Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) is a fatal worldwide tick-borne disease of canines. To date, there are no published reports on the serological detection of Ehrlichia canis in dogs in Metropolitan Manila, Philippines. In an attempt to establish the serological status of canine ehrlichiosis in the country, a total of 169 canine blood samples were processed for ELISA assay. A high percentage of the blood samples, 95.3% (161/169), were found seropositive for E. canis antibodies using Immunocomb® Ehrlichia canis test kit. Moreover, out of the total seropositive animals, 59.0% (95/161) exhibited significant antibody titers whereas 41.0% (66/161) displayed low antibody titer levels. Only 4.7% (8/169) of the blood samples showed seron-egative results. Te study reports seropositive Immunocomb® Canine Ehrlichia Antibody test kit results from randomly sampled canines of Metropolitan Manila, Philippines. Consequently, the significant levels of antibody titers only indicate possible exposure to the pathogen but not necessarily the presence of the aetiologic agent. In summary, the outcome of the study indicates that the aetiologic agent of the fatal disease in canines (CME), E. canis, is possibly in existence in the Philippines. Te paper describes the first serological evidence for E. canis exposure in canines from Metropolitan Manila, Philippines using an ELISA-based diagnostic test kit.

Source or Periodical Title

Israel Journal of Veterinary Medicine

ISSN

0334-9152

Volume

66

Issue

4

Page

151-156

Document Type

Article

Physical Description

map, table

Language

English

Subject

Canines, E. canis, ELISA, Metropolitan Manila, Military dogs, Philippines

Digital Copy

yes

Link to Full Text

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