Incidence and seroprevalence of canine ehrlichiosis in the Medjez El Bab region (northwestern Tunisia during 1994, 1995 and 1996

A sero-epidemiological survey, realized in the Medjez El Bab region (North-West of Tunisia), has concerned 180 dogs which status has been determined during the study. The animals were identified, then underwent an annual blood sampling during three successive years, in order to search for antibodies against E. canis and E. chaffeensis by indirect immunofluorescence. The results show that, in all sero-positive dogs, the levels of antibodies against E. canis were higher than those against E. chaffeensis. The sero-prevalence of E. canis was 42.8%, 50% and 48.9%, in 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively, and was higher than that against E. chaffeensis during the three year studies. The incidence of E. canis infection was 12.6% during the three years whereas E. chaffeensis infection did not exceed 4.7%.