Soroprevalência e fatores de riscos associados à infecção por Erlichia canis em cães do Município de Patos, Estado da Paraíba.

Abstract

Aiming to determine the seroprevalence of Ehrlichia canis infection, as well as to identify risk factors associated to infection, a serological survey was conducted in 109 dogs assisted at the Hospital Veterinário/Centro de Saúde e Tecnologia Rural (CSTR)/Universidade Federal de Campina Grande(UFCG), Campus de Patos, Paraíba state, Northeastern Brazil. For the serological diagnosis of ehrlichiosis, the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) using the Jaboticabal strain of E. canis as antigen, was carried out. Sera presenting antibody titers 40 were considered positive. Of the 109 samples, 79 were positive, resulting in a seroprevalence of 72.48% (95% CI = 63.10% – 80.60%). Animals that had contact with dogs (odds ratio = 3.59; 95% CI = 1.41 – 9.12), contact with dams (odds ratio = 8.39; 95% CI = 1.01 – 69.87) and with some access to the street (odds ratio = 6.24; 95% CI = 1.28 – 30.39) were more exposed to risk of the infection.