Implementation of a PCR-based method for the diagnosis of Ehrlichia spp, in canine in Medellin (Colombia)* Implementación de un método basado en PCR, para el diagnóstico de Ehrlichia spp., en caninos de Medellín (Colombia). Implementação de um método baseado em PCR, para o diagnóstico de Ehrlichia spp., em caninos de Medellín (Colômbia).

Ehrlichiosis is a worldwide illness, endemic in tropical and subtropical countries where seroprevalence can reach up to 33% as it is the case in Mexico and Israel. However, the low sensitivity of the serological tests used for diagnosis, 67% in tests with IFI, has led to a required searching for new alternatives to diagnose the disease quickly and effectively. PCR is one of these techniques that could provide high sensitivity and specificity. The target of this study was to implement the PCR test for the diagnosis of Ehrlichia spp., on blood samples from animals with suspected illness from veterinary clinics in the city of Medellin. 90 samples were taken, 33 samples from animals suspected of having symptoms and 57 from healthy animals as probable negatives. DNA from the Madrid strain was used as a positive control. The PCR was performed using as an example the protocol suggested by Aguirre et al (2004). EEC and ECB primers reported by Dawson et al (2004) were used (aqui el propio texto en espanol no esta claro). In this study the 500pb band was amplified, corresponding to the 16s rRNA of Ehrlichia spp., in 11 samples of the animals with suspected illness, obtaining a presentation rate of 33.3%, confirming the presence of bacteria in the animals of the environment, and achieving the implementation of PCR for Ehrlichia spp. as a diagnostic tool in the city.