Survey of tick infestation and tick-borne ehrlichial infection of dogs in Ishigaki Island, Japan

Twelve (54.5%) of 22 free-roaming dogs in Ishigaki Island had tick infestat ion identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus. There were 121 ticks recovered and consisted of 28 females, 58 males, 22 nymphs and 3 larvae. Infection of dogs possibly with canine ehrlichial pathogens was examined by both indire ct immunofluorescence assay and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Two dogs o f the 13 examined were sero-positive for the human granulocytic ehrlichia a gent, and one of two dogs was PCR positive for Ehrlichia platys. This dog h ad platelet numbers slightly lower than normal value, however, no morulae w ere found within platelet on peripheral blood smear stained with Giemsa.