CANINE EHRLICHIOSIS IN EGYPT - SEROEPIDEMIOLOGIC SURVEY

A total of 374 dogs, 252 from five military kennels and 122 privately owned, were tested for Ehrlichia canis antibody. Sera were tested at a 1:20 dilution by indirect fluorescent antibody with the use of E. can is cell-culture antigen slides. The overall prevalence of E. canis ant ibody was 33%. Antibody prevalence among military dogs (29%) was signi ficantly lower than among privately owned dogs (41%; P < 0,05). The E. canis seroprevalence among dogs infested with ticks (Rhipicephalus sa nguineus) was higher (44%) than that among uninfested dogs(31%; P = 0, 08). The seroprevalence among military dogs varied from 21-46% at the five kennels; lower prevalences were observed in kennels with higher s anitary and hygienic conditions. Age- and sex-related E. canis antibod y prevalences were not significantly different among military and priv ately owned dogs, although adult and male privately owned dogs had the highest seroprevalences (45% and 44%, respectively). Three dogs with epistaxis had E. canis antibody titres > 1:320. These data demonstrate the first laboratory evidence of E. canis infection among dogs in Egy pt.