1Department of Veterinary Parasitology
School of Applied Animal Production and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Mannuthy, Thrissur-680651, Kerala, India
*Corresponding author. Email: bindul@kvasu.ac.in
Online published on 24 February, 2020.
The present study was designed to detect the presence of Ehrlichia canis in ixodid ticks infesting dogs, using SYBR green based real-time PCR and to compare the diagnostic sensitivity of the assay with conventional PCR. Ehrlichia canis DNA could be detected in Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Haemaphysalis bispinosa ticks collected from dogs, with a SYBR green based real-time PCR assay. The assay was found to be a superior tool to conventional PCR in detecting this pathogen in tick tissues. The present study points out the need to re-investigate the vectorial capacity of ticks including H. bispinosa, in different geographical regions using sensitive molecular tools like real-time PCR.
Ehrlichia canis, Ticks, Conventional PCR, Real-time PCR, Kerala
