Serological evidence of Ehrlichia canis in dogs in southern Italy.

A serological survey of antibodies to Ehrlichia canis was performed on 423 dogs. The indirect fluorescence antibody test was employed. For this purpose mouse-dog hybridoma cells infected with Ehrlichia canis were used. Eighty-five dogs were found positive. The study tested 25 dogs with clinical signs suggestive of a rickettsial infection. Twenty-three of them had antibodies to E. canis.