| The aim of the present study was to compare the direct detection methods of Ehrlichia canis (blood smears and nested PCR), serological tests (Dot-ELISA and Immunofluorescent Antibody Test - IFAT), and demonstrate the most suitable test for the diagnosis of different stages of infection. Blood samples and clinical data were collected from 30 dogs examined at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil. The clinical signs most frequently observed were apathy, anorexia, pale mucous membrane, fever, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, hemorrhages and uveitis. Evaluating the humoral immune response, 63.3% of the sera were IFAT positive, while 70% were Dot-ELISA positive. By nestedPCR 53.3% of the samples were positive. Comparing these techniques... |
