First report of Ehrlichia infection in goats, China

Publication date: September 2017 Source:Microbial Pathogenesis, Volume 110 Author(s): Hui Zhang, Zhenyu Chang, Khalid Mehmood, Yajing Wang, Mujeeb Ur Rehman, Fazul Nabi, Ahamad Jawad Sabir, Xueting Liu, Xiaoxing Wu, Xinxin Tian, Donghai Zhou Ehrlichiosis is an emerging infectious disease of domestic animals which is transmitted by ticks. This disease has been reported earlier in most parts of China in dogs, cattle and humans, but there is no published data regarding this disease in goats. The present study provided the evidence of Ehrlichia infection in goats in Wuhan, China on the basis of clinical signs, gross lesions, serum-biochemical, histopathological and PCR. Twenty four goats were presented to the veterinary hospital of Huazhong Agricultural University during July, 2016. The goats were diagnosed for Ehrlichia in monocytic and granulocytic forms by blood smear examination. Further confirmation was done by PCR examination, while histopathological examination revealed degeneration and inflammation in different tissues. The biochemical criterion and blood samples analysis showed significant (P < 0.05) changes. The present study reported that goats are naturally exposed to Ehrlichia infection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first clinical report of Ehrlichia infection in goats infested with infected ticks.
Source: Microbial Pathogenesis - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research