Abstract
In this work, we analyze data that support an epidemiological link between cases of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) by Ehrlichia canis and the presence of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu stricto as vector in an endemic area for this tick in Argentina. In a blood sample of a 1-year-old toy poodle with CME compatible clinical signs, which showed CME typical morulae in monocytes in Giemsa-stained blood smear, DNA of E. canis was detected by PCR. Further, DNA of E. canis was also detected in a female of R. sanguineus s.s. collected on the infected dog. Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.s. is the only member of the R. sanguineus group that prevails in the study area. The results of this study suggest that R. sanguineus s.s. may play a more important role in the transmission of E. canis than it was assumed so far. The epidemiological link between CME cases and R. sanguineus s.s. as vector in temperate areas of Argentina described in this work contrast previous studies which found that R. sanguineus sensu lato “tropical lineage” (which is absent in the study area) is competent to transmit E. canis but not R. sanguineus s.s.
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Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Gabriel L. Cicuttin (Instituto de Zoonosis Luis Pasteur, Buenos Aires, Argentina) for providing positive controls of Ehrlichia sp. STRAIN San Luis and for his critical reading of an early version of the manuscript.
Funding
Financial support for PSS and SN was provided by INTA (Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria), Asociación Cooperadora INTA Rafaela, and CONICET (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas).
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Animal ethics guidelines regarding animal care were strictly adhered. Ethics approval, protocol No. 158, was granted by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (Comité Institucional de Cuidado y Uso de Animales en Investigación y Docencia) of Universidad Juan Agustín Maza, Mendoza.
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Sebastian, P.S., Mera y Sierra, R., Neira, G. et al. Epidemiological link between canine monocytic ehrlichiosis caused by Ehrlichia canis and the presence of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu stricto in Argentina. Parasitol Res 120, 725–729 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-07005-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-07005-7