Circulation of Anaplasma platys, Babesia vogeli and Ehrlichia canis in dogs from eastern Salta Province, Argentina.

The objective of this study was to investigated the presence of Rickettsiales bacteria and Piroplasmida protozoa in canine blood samples from different peri-urban/rural localities in eastern Salta Province, Argentina. Complete DNA was extracted from 77 blood samples and analysed by conventional PCR assays targeting fragments of the genes for 16S rRNA (Anaplasmataceae), 18S rRNA (Piroplasmida) and gltA (Rickettsia). Also, a real-time PCR assay for direct detection of Ehrlichia canis and phylogenetic analyses of obtained gene sequences were applied. The analyses resulted in the detection of Anaplasma platys (10.91%), Babesia vogeli (2.6%) and E. canis (14.29%). A co-infection with different microorganism and rickettsial infection was not observed. The detection of B. vogeli represents the northernmost finding of this protozoa in Argentina. These results demonstrate the circulation canine vector-borne diseases agents in eastern Salta Province and expand the knowledge of the geographical distribution of these pathogens.