Antibodies to granulocytic Ehrlichia in moose, red deer, and roe deer in Norway

Serum samples from 104 moose (Alces alces), 124 red deer (Cervus elaphus) and 114 roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), collected from different counties in southern Norway from 1994 to 2000, were analysed by an indirect immunofluorescent antibody staining method for antibodies to Ehrlichia equi. The overall seroprevalences for granulocytic Ehrlichia spp. in moose, red deer, and roe deer from Ixodes ricinus infested counties were 43%, 55%, and 96%, respectively. Antibody prevalence was significantly higher in roe deer than in moose and red deer (P < 0.001). Mean antibody titers (log10 +/- SD) to E. equi in sera from moose, red deer, and roe deer were 1:1,497 (3.17 +/- 0.646), 1:234 (2.37 +/- 0.424) and 1:676 (2.83 +/- 0.404), respectively. The present work indicates that all these wild ruminant species are exposed to granulocytic Ehrlichia in Norway.