• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.187-193
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• 2008

Ehrlichia chaffeensis infects human and animals, and causes human monocytotropic ehrlichiosis (HME). It is emerging as a tick-borne zoonosis of concern. Although deer are important natural reservoir hosts of E chaffeensis, few surveys of deer in Korea for E chaffeensis have been conducted. Therefore, we conducted this study to confirm the occurrence of E chaffeensis in deer. To accomplish this study, we collected blood from total 27 deer and then polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and 16S rRNA sequence analyse to evaluate the samples for the presence of E chaffeensis. The results of this study indicated that 9 (33%) of the deer were infected with E chaffeensis. This is the first study to demonstrate that deer in Korea are infected with E chaffeensis, which indicates that they can act as a natural reservoir host for E chaffeensis.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.515-519
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• 2009

Antibodies to Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Ehrlichia chaffeensis were detected by the immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) test in sera collected from cats, thoroughbred horses and Holstein cattle in Gwangju, Jeonju and Jeju Island of Korea. Two hundred fifty four sera (33 feral and pet cats, 92 grazing horses and 129 grazing cattle) were obtained from Republic of Korea. Antibodies to A. phagocytophilum (titer $\geq$ 80) were detected in 6 of the 33 feral and pet cats (18.2%), and 1 seropositive cat (3.0%) also had antibodies to E. chaffeensis. Only 1 of 129 (0.8%) cattle and 2 of 92 (2.2%) horses had antibodies to A. phagocytophilum. Antibodies to E. chaffeensis were not detected in either of these animals. This is the first report of serological evidence of A. phagocytophilum and E. chaffeensis from cats, cattle and horses in Korea. These rickettsial agents could have an important impact on human health or impact animal health with economic losses among industrial grazing animals in Korea.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.204-210
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• 2011

The presence of the tick-borne pathogens Ehrlichia and Borrelia in German Shepherd dogs in Korea was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 291 dogs were randomly selected from five Korean provinces from October 2005 through September 2006. The seroprevalence of antibodies to canine Ehrlichia and Borrelia agents detected by ELISA (Snap$^{(R)}$ 3Dx$^{(R)}$ Test, IDEXX Laboratories) was 7.56% (22 dogs) and 1.72% (5 dogs) respectively, throughout the country. Positive antibodies against both pathogens were detected in two dogs (0.69%). The provincial distribution of seroprevalence against Ehrlichia was 1.28% (1 of 78) in Gyeonggi-do, 12.64% (11 of 87) in Gangwon-do, 9.76% (4 of 41) in Chungcheong-do, 8.93% (5 of 56) in Gyeongsang-do, and 3.45% (1 of 29) in Jeolla-do. According to PCR analysis, Ehrlichia chaffeensis target DNA was amplified in 3.09% (9 of 291 dogs) of blood samples, 2.41% (7 of 291) from Gangwon-do and 0.69% (2 of 291) from Chungcheong-do. The oligonucleotide sequences (SNU-EC3 and SNU-EC5) from the PCR fragment examined in Korea were closely related to E. chaffeensis isolated from the tick Haemaphysalis longicornis, in China and the state of Arkansas in the US. Based on these results, the presence of E. chaffeensis infection was identified in German Shepherds being bred in Korea. These results bring to light the importance of paying close attention to tick-borne infections such as Lyme disease during clinical diagnosis. This infectious disease should be included as a differential diagnosis for patients who participate in outdoor activity from spring to fall or who have thrombocytopenia or leucopenia.