Seroprevalence of Ehrlichia canis in Clinically Suspect Dogs and Its Association with Clinical and Social Factors in Urban and Rural Areas of North-Central Mexico

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Abstract
The objective of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of Ehrlichia canis in clinically suspect dogs in the Laguna Region of Coahuila, Mexico, and to analyse its association with several clinical, haematological, and social variables. The present study focuses on the veterinary care provided to a total of 249 dogs during the period from August 2023 to November 2024. The implementation of an immunochromatographic test was undertaken for the purpose of antibody detection. The observed seroprevalence was 63.9% (n = 156). Firstly, statistically significant associations were identified with clinical haemorrhagic signs (77.33%; OR = 5.03; p < 0.001), anaemia (81.25%; OR = 4.17; p < 0.001), and thrombocytopenia (96.26%; OR = 43.24; p < 0.001). Secondly, rural dogs exhibited a higher prevalence (70.54%) compared to urban dogs (54.17%), which was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.01). Multivariate analysis and logistic regression identified thrombocytopenia as the most robust predictor. The findings emphasise the substantial circulation of Ehrlichia canis in the region, thereby reinforcing the clinical significance of haemorrhagic manifestations and haematological parameters as diagnostic tools in low-resource settings. The implementation of epidemiological surveillance, vector control, and community education programmes is recommended in order to reduce the impact of this disease on animal and public health.
Funding Information
  • SECIHTI (Secretaría de Ciencia, Humanidades, Tecnología e Innovación) (1316064)

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