SEROPREVALENCE OF CANINE MONOCYTIC EHRLICHIOSIS IN HUNTING DOGS IN THE AUTONOMOUS PROVINCE OF VOJVODINA, SERBIA

Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis is a bacterial, vector-transmitted infection caused by Ehrlichia canis. Th e pathogen is mainly transmitted by ticks Rhipicephalus sanguineus. The disease highest distributionis most widely distributed in tropical and subtropical countries but it is also reported in Mediterranean countries of Europe (Spain, France, Italy, Turkey). Temperate continental climate and presence of these tick species are responsible for the maintenance and spreading of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis within the dog population in our region as well. Since hunting dogs are more exposed to tick bites then pet dogs, ed thisour study was conducted with the aims of determining the seroprevalence and basic epidemiological characteristics of monocytic ehrlichiosis infection in the population of hunting dogs, and comparing the obtained results with the results of other authors. This research involved 58 hunting dogs from the region of Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. All dogs were clinically examined and their basic epidemiological characteristics were recorded. Then, blood samples were collected in order to determine the presence of specifi c G class antibodies against Ehrlichia canis antigens. An indirect immunofl uorescence test manufactured by VMRD, U.S.A., was used. In this study, the seroprevalence of monocytic ehrlichiosis in a population of examined hunting dogs from the region of Vojvodina was 13.79%. Th is rate is similar to the seroprevalence of monocytic ehrlichiosis in the general population of dogs in Vojvodina.