Evaluation of blood samples collected from 214 dogs from Ludhiana, Punjab (India) was performed for the presence of Ehrlichia canis using PCR-based assays targeting a portion of the 16S rRNA gene. Of the total samples subjected to routine blood smear examination, the morulae of E. canis were detected in 2.34% samples. Nested PCR assay produced amplicons of expected size (389 bp) specific for E. canis in 41.59% (89/214) of samples. The results of multivariate analysis showed that the prevalence of E. canis was higher in the summer as compared to the winter season (P = 0.031) and in dogs younger than six-month-old as compared to older dogs (P < 0.001), while breed and sex of the host were not significantly associated with the occurrence of the disease.

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