Address for correspondence: Giovanna Masala, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Via Duca degli Abruzzi 8, 07100 Sassari, Italy. Voice: 0039-79-289215; Fax: 0039-79-272189.
giovanna.masala{at}izs-sardegna.it
Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 990: 126-130 (2003).
Ehrlichiosis and rickettsiosis are very common, widespread diseases.
These diseases are present in Sardinia year round because its
temperate weather permits the survival of many kinds of tick
vectors. A thousand dogs were subjected to physical, hematological,
biochemical examinations and serological tests. All 1,000 sera
were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence antibody test to
detect antibodies against
E. canis and
R. rickettsii. A high
seroprevalence (about 50%) was detected for both etiological
agents, without differences in relation to sex, breed, or usage.
A high seroprevalence, corresponding to 62.5% for ehrlichiosis
and 64% for rickettsiosis, was observed in the age group of
13-60 months. The mortality was greatest in the males in the
age group, which manifested the disease in the chronic phase.
