The relationship between the degree of thrombocytopenia and infection with Ehrlichia canis in an endemic area

Camilo Bulla; Regina Kiomi Takahira; João Pessoa Araújo Jr.; Luzia AparecidaTrinca; Raimundo Souza Lopes; Charles Edward Wiedmeyer

doi:doi:10.1051/vetres:2003038

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Volume 35 / No 1 (January-February 2004)

Vet. Res., 35 1 (2004) 141-146

Abstract

Free Access

Issue		Vet. Res. Volume 35, Number 1, January-February 2004


Page(s)		141 - 146
DOI		https://doi.org/10.1051/vetres:2003038
How to cite this article		Vet. Res. (2004) 141-146

Vet. Res. 35 (2004) 141-146
DOI: 10.1051/vetres:2003038

The relationship between the degree of thrombocytopenia and infection with Ehrlichia canis in an endemic area

Camilo Bulla^a, Regina Kiomi Takahira^a, João Pessoa Araújo Jr.^b, Luzia AparecidaTrinca^c, Raimundo Souza Lopes^a and Charles Edward Wiedmeyer^d

^a Clinical Pathology Laboratory, Departamento de Clínica Veterinária, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, Brazil
^b Departamento de Microbiologia Imunologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, Brazil
^c Departamento de Bioestatística, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, Brazil
^d University of Missouri-Columbia, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Columbia, Missouri, USA

(Received 14 March 2003; accepted 14 August 2003)

Abstract - Ehrlichia canis is the causative agent of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis. In order to evaluate platelet counts as a screening test for E. canis in an endemic area, 217 whole blood samples from dogs were divided into three groups: 71 non-thrombocytopenic samples (group A, platelet counts greater than 200 000/mL) and 146 thrombocytopenic samples (less than 200 000/mL). The thrombocytopenic group was further divided into 62 with platelet counts between 100 000-200 000/mL (Group B) and 84 samples with less than 100 000 platelets/mL (Group C). All samples were examined for the presence of a segment of the Ehrlichia canis 16S rRNA gene using a nested polymerase chain reaction. Sixty-seven of the 217 samples (30.9%) were positive for the presence of the E. canis 16S rRNA gene; 53 (63.1%) of the group C samples and 13 (21%) of group B. Only one (1.4%) of the non-thrombocytopenic samples (Group A) was positive. These data support the concept that platelet counts may be a good screening test for canine monocytic ehrlichiosis, and that the magnitude of thrombocytopenia may increase the reliability of diagnosis.