Prevalence of Ehrlichia spp. in dogs and ticks in Hainan Province, China

Abstract

Abstract Background Ehrlichia spp. are a group of intracellular parasitic bacteria primarily transmitted by ticks. They exhibit a wide global distribution and can infect a diverse range of mammals, including humans, underscoring their immense public health significance. Results Among 631 ticks examined, all were identified as belonging to the Rhipicephalus linnaei; of these, 63 (9.98%) out of 631 ticks tested positive for Ehrlichia canis.Additionally, 140 (11.08%) out of 1264 dog blood samples were positive for E. canis. Notably, Ehrlichia ewingii and Ehrlichia chaffeensis were not detected. The prevalence of Ehrlichia infection in dogs was associated with factors such as age, breed, dewormer use, tick infestation, and living environment while displaying no association with the dog’s gender. Conclusions In Hainan Province, Rhipicephalus linnaei is the dominant tick species infecting dogs. Dogs are vulnerable to Ehrlichia infection, particularly rural and stray dogs, suggesting the need for a targeted control strategy.

Keywords

• Dog
• Ehrlichia
• Tick
• PCR
• Phylogenetic analysis