Serological and molecular survey of Anaplasma species infection in dogs with suspected tick-borne disease in Portugal.

摘要

Fifty-five dogs with suspected tickborne disease weretested by immunofluorescence assay and PCR forAnaplasma phagocytophilum infection. Thirty (54·5 percent) of the dogs were seropositive and five of themfulfilled the serological criteria for an active infection,with either seroconversion or a fourfold increase inantibody titres. Fragments of DNA of the expectedsize were detected by PCR in two seropositive andthree seronegative dogs. However, direct ampliconsequencing failed to identify active A phagocytophiluminfections, but revealed the presence of Anaplasmaplatys DNA in the PCR-positive animals.