Open Access
Research (Published online: 31-01-2022)
29. First report on molecular characteristics and risk factor analysis of Ehrlichia canis in dogs in Khon Kaen, Thailand
Thongphet Mitpasa, Biethee Rani Sarker, Arayaporn Macotpet, Pattara-Anong Bupata, Somboon Sangmaneedet and Weerapol Taweenan
Veterinary World, 15(1): 232-238

Thongphet Mitpasa: Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
Biethee Rani Sarker: Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
Arayaporn Macotpet: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
Pattara-Anong Bupata: Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
Somboon Sangmaneedet: Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
Weerapol Taweenan: Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.

doi: www.doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2022.232-238

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Article history: Received: 27-08-2021, Accepted: 28-12-2021, Published online: 31-01-2022

Corresponding authors: Weerapol Taweenan

E-mail: weerapol@kku.ac.th

Citation: Mitpasa T, Sarker BR, Macotpet A, Bupata P, Sangmaneedet S, Taweenan W (2022) First report on molecular characteristics and risk factor analysis of Ehrlichia canis in dogs in Khon Kaen, Thailand, Veterinary World, 15(1): 232-238.
Abstract

Background and Aim: Ehrlichia canis is a well-known cause of both anemia and thrombocytopenia in dogs. There are insufficient epidemiological data on this blood parasite in Thailand and the association of infections with hematological abnormalities. This study aimed to analyze the molecular characteristics and to identify E. canis as well as the risk factors associated with E. canis infection in dogs in Khon Kaen, Thailand.

Materials and Methods: Blood samples from 126 dogs that visited animal clinics were subjected to molecular detection using nested polymerase chain reaction for E. canis 16S rRNA gene. The risk factors and hematological profiles associated with the infection were analyzed using the logistic regression test in program SPSS version 19.

Results: Forty-one dogs were infected, indicating a 32.5% molecular infection rate of E. canis. The factors significantly associated with E. canis infection include animal housing status, low packed cell volume, low red blood cell count, and low platelets (p<0.05). Ten positive samples were amplified, sequenced, and phylogenetically analyzed. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis confirmed the current ten samples as E. canis compared with reference sequences in GenBank, using the BLAST program hosted by NCBI, which showed 99.74-100% similarity.

Conclusion: This study provided the first data of infection rate of E. canis using nested PCR and molecular characteristics of E. canis in randomly selected domestic dogs in Khon Kaen, Thailand.

Keywords: Ehrlichia canis, molecular characteristics, nested polymerase chain reaction, phylogenetic analysis, Thailand.