Molecular Evidences of Ehrlichiosis as an Emerging Zoonotic Disease in Kerman City

Ehrlichiosis is an emerging tick-borne zoonotic disease caused by the gram-negative coccid obligate intracellular bacteria of the family Anaplasmataceae. Since the only available evidence in regard to monocytic Ehrlichiosis in Iran is related to dogs, the present study was designed to use the polymerase chain reaction assay for confirming the presence of Ehrlichia spp. in tick infested client-owned dogs in Kerman. Blood samples were prepared randomly from 100 owned tick infested dogs regardless of clinical status. Complete blood count was done for each sample and in the next step, DNA extraction was done and PCR was carried out by a commercial kit. Six of 100 (6%) examined dogs were positive for Ehrlichia spp. based on PCR. Results of the present study confirmed the presence of Ehrlichiosis as an emerging zoonotic disease in Iran and dogs could be considered as a main reservoir for the disease. It is recommended to determine the prevalence of Ehrlichiosis and the most prevalent Ehrlichia species in animal reservoirs, vectors, and human population in different geographical regions of Iran in further epidemiological studies.