First molecular characterization of a granulocytic ehrlichia strain isolated from a dog in south italy

Interest in the study of granulocytic ehrlichiosis in veterinary and human medicine has increased since the discovery that dogs, horses and humans can be infected by genetically closely related Ehrlichia species (E. phagocytophila genogroup). The close antigenic and genetic relationship has raised the awareness of the zoonotic potential of E. phagocytophila-like organisms (Walker and Dumler, 1996). We report here the case of a dog from South Italy affected by granulocytic ehrlichi- osis. The causative agent was characterized by PCR and subsequent sequencing of the PCR product. Based on recent findings on human Ehrlichia infection in Italy (Nuti et al., 1998), our results highlight the importance of this underestimated disease as a possible zoonosis affecting canine population.