Molecular detection of Anaplasma platys in dogs using polymerase chain reaction and reverse line blot hybridization

Several polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) and a reverse line blot hybridization (RLB) method were used to identify Anaplasma platys in dogs held in a kennel in Italy. Whereas PCR techniques confirmed the presence of A. platys, the RLB method not only correlated the results obtained by PCR but also ruled out the presence of other species such as Ehrlichia canis or E. chaffeensis. There was no correlation between infection status and age or breed of the dogs. Polymerase chain reaction performed on the Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks collected from those dogs showed that they were also infected with A. platys. Sequences obtained from some samples and compared with those within the GenBank also confirmed the presence of A. platys.