Evidence for vertical transmission of Mycoplasma haemocanis, but not Ehrlichia ewingii, in a dog

Abstract A 2‐year‐old female intact pregnant Beagle was evaluated after the owner surrendered her to a shelter. Prepartum and 2 months postpartum at the time of routine spay, the dam was whole‐blood polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive for Ehrlichia ewingii. She was also whole‐blood PCR positive...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Erin Lashnits, Sandra Grant, Brittany Thomas, Barbara Qurollo, Edward B. Breitschwerdt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2019-07-01
Series:Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15517
Description
Summary:Abstract A 2‐year‐old female intact pregnant Beagle was evaluated after the owner surrendered her to a shelter. Prepartum and 2 months postpartum at the time of routine spay, the dam was whole‐blood polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive for Ehrlichia ewingii. She was also whole‐blood PCR positive for Mycoplasma haemocanis prepartum and continuously for 5 months thereafter. The dam delivered 5 healthy puppies, 1 of which was whole‐blood PCR positive for M. haemocanis. All 5 puppies had antibodies against Ehrlichia spp. at 1 month of age but not thereafter, and all puppies were Ehrlichia spp. PCR negative for 5 months of follow‐up. Therefore, this study supports a potential role for vertical transmission in the maintenance of M. haemocanis in dogs as reservoir hosts. In contrast, in this case there was no evidence that E. ewingii was transmitted transplacentally or during the perinatal period.
ISSN:0891-6640
1939-1676