Factores asociados a la infección por Ehrlichia canis en perros infestados con garrapatas en la ciudad de Huánuco, Perú

Edward Huerto-Medina; Bernardo Dámaso-Mata

doi:10.17843/rpmesp.2015.324.1769

Authors

Edward Huerto-Medina Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria. Universidad Nacional Hermilio Valdizan. Huanuco, Peru.
Bernardo Dámaso-Mata Facultad de Medicina. Universidad Nacional Hermilio Valdizan. Huanuco, Peru.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17843/rpmesp.2015.324.1769

Keywords:

Ehrlichia canis, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Prevalence, Immunoenzyme techniques

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the frequency and associated factors of Ehrlichia canis infection in dogs. Blood samples from 150 dogs infested with ticks in 10 veterinary clinics in the city of Huanuco in Peru were collected. The dogs were randomly selected without regard to breed, age or sex. Ehrlichia canis antibodies were detected by chromatographic
immunoassay.51.3% of dogs were infected with Ehrlichia canis. In the multivariate analysis, factors associated with the presence of Ehrlichia canis were: poor health of the dog (p = 0.049), a higher average of tick infestation (p = 0.018), and adult dogs (p = 0.038). The frequency of Ehrlichia canis in dogs of this city is high. Control of the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) vector of Ehrlichia canis is recommended.