Natural infection of domestic goats with Ehrlichia chaffeensis

Thirty-eight domestic goats from an area of Ehrlichia chaffeensis endemicit y were tested for antibodies reactive to E. chaffeensis and for E. chaffeen sis-specific 16S rRNA gene fragments by an indirect fluorescent antibody te st and a nested PCR assay, respectively, Twenty-eight of 38 (73.7%) goats h ad antibodies reactive to E. chaffeensis (greater than or equal to 1:128), and 6 of 38 (15.8%) goats were positive by diagnostic PCR; E, chaffeenis wa s isolated in cell culture from one goat. Our data indicate that goats in a reas of endemicity are naturally exposed to and infected with E. chaffeensi s.