The application of PCR and reverse line blot hybridization to detect arthropod-borne hemopathogens of dogs and cats in Trinidad

Karla Georges, Chukwudozi D. Ezeokoli, Aweeda Newaj-Fyzul, Mervyn Campbell, Natasha Mootoo, Alexander Mutani, Olivier A.E. Sparagano

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

37 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Arthropod-borne diseases are important causes of morbidity and mortality of companion animals in Trinidad. As clinical signs are vague, more sensitive methods to diagnose these diseases based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by reverse line blot hybridization (RLB) of amplified products are being developed. An RLB of 14 oligonucleotide probes coupled with polymerase chain-amplified regions of 16S rRNA or 18S rRNA genes of hemoparasites from cats and dogs detected Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, Babesia canis vogeli, feline mycoplasmas ("Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum," Mycoplasma haemofelis), and some unknown species within the Babesia/Theileria group and the Anaplasma/Ehrlichia tribe. Amplified products were obtained from blood samples collected from 348 dogs and 15 cats. Overall, hemopathogen DNA was detected in 92 (26.4%) dogs and six (40.0%) cats. E. canis (49, 14.1%) and feline mycoplasma (5, 33.3%) DNA were most frequently identified in dogs and cats, respectively. B. canis vogeli (1, 6.7%) and E. canis (1, 6.7%) were also detected in cats. Mixed infections of Anaplasma/Ehrlichia sp. and Babesia sp. were present in five (1.4%) dogs, while mixed infections of the feline mycoplasmas were present in two (13.3%) cats, one of which was also positive for E. canis. Pyrexia was significantly associated with a positive RLB result in dogs (P = 0.00, χ2, 1 df). This is the first reported application of macro-arraying techniques to detect arthropod-borne hemopathogens of companion animals in the Americas and the first detection of DNA of B. canis vogeli and E. canis in cats in Trinidad.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAnimal Biodiversity and Emerging Diseases Prediction and Prevention
PublisherWiley
Pages196-199
Number of pages4
Volume1149
ISBN (Print)9781573317146
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2008
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameAnnals of the New York Academy of Sciences
Volume1149
ISSN (Print)0077-8923
ISSN (Electronic)1749-6632

Keywords

  • Cats
  • Dogs
  • Hemopathogens
  • PCR
  • Reverse line blot
  • Trinidad

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
  • History and Philosophy of Science

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