Prevalence of Ehrlichia canis in Dog Population of Shiraz, Fars Province of Iran

Abstract

Jafari, S., Gaur, S.N.S. and Hashemi, A. 1997. Prevalence of Ehrlichia canis in dog population of Shiraz, Fars Province of Iran. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 11: 19–23.

This study includes the observations on the prevalence of Ehrlichia canis in dogs of Fars province of Iran for one year. Out of a total of 180 dogs examined, 17 (9.44%) were positive for this infection. All the positive animals were between 6 months to 6 years in age and the dogs of German shepherd breed showed maximum infection rate (21.1%), followed by native Iranian ones (7.4%). The common species of ticks collected from the body of the infected animals were identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus which could play a role in the transmission of this infection in this area.

Key words:

• Ehrlichia canis
• dog
• prevalence
• Rhipicephalus sanguineus