Molecular prevalence of Ehrlichia canis in dogs examined at the Hospital de Clínicas Veterinárias of Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Southern Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Ehrlichia canis is a pathogen that causes a multisystemic disease in dogs of all ages and sexes and belongs to a genus with zoonotic potential. This study aimed to determine the molecular prevalence of E. canis in a population of dogs with no clinical suspicion of ehrlichiosis, examined at the Hospital de Clínicas Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (HCV, UFPel). Blood samples from 95 dogs were analyzed at the Veterinary Molecular Biology Laboratory (LabMol-Vet) using nested PCR (nPCR) targeting a 16S rDNA fragment. Amplified products were analyzed by electrophoresis on 1.5% agarose gel and visualized under UV light, revealing a molecular prevalence of 16.84% (16/95). Two PCR products were sequenced for phylogenetic analysis, providing complementary confirmation. This study represents one of the few molecular prevalence investigations conducted in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and underscore the need for continuous monitoring and further studies to better understand the dynamics of infection.