Seroprevalence of Ehrlichia canis infections in police dogs in Spain

Abstract A seroepidemiological study of Ehrlichia canis was made in police dogs in Madrid (Spain). Anti Ehrlichia canis antibodies were detected by indirect fluorescent antibody test for the detection of IgG. The results obtained (three positive dogs out of a population of 131 animals) represents a seroprevalence of canine ehrlichiosis of 2.29%. This seroprevalence is one of the lowest described for this type of population. The seroprevalence obtained from hunting dogs kennelled in Madrid in 1993 was 66.7% (24 positive out of a population of 36). Environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, rainfall, etc.) in both populations were very similar. We suggest that these conflicting results are due to the different prophylactic programmes used in these two populations.