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Novel Ehrlichia Genotype Detected in Dogs in South Africa

ABSTRACT DNA samples from dogs presenting with symptoms suggestive of canine ehrlichiosis, but with no morulae detected on blood smears, frequently failed to give a positive reaction with a North AmericanEhrlichia canis-specific PCR assay targeting the 16S rRNA gene. We suspected the presence of a pathogen genetically different from North American E. canis, and we performed experiments to test this hypothesis. DNA from one canine blood sample was subjected to PCR with primers designed to amplify Ehrlichia (Cowdria)ruminantiumruminantium 16S andmap1 genes. Amplicon sequencing yielded 16S andmap1 sequences which were more closely related to otherE. ruminantium sequences than to those of any other Ehrlichia species. Fifty canine DNA samples were subjected to a PCR assay, previously found to beCowdria-specific, which targets the pCS20 gene. Thirty-seven (74%) gave a positive signal, and 16 (32%) also gave visible amplicons after gel electrophoresis, suggesting that thisE. ruminantium organism is common in the Pretoria-Johannesburg area. The organism has not been isolated in culture, so we cannot definitively state that it was responsible for the canine ehrlichiosis symptoms, although the occurrence of several similar cases suggests this to be so. Most importantly, we also do not yet know whether the organism is infective for, or causes heartwater in, ruminants.