Epidemiology of Potomac horse fever: an investigation into the possible role of non-equine mammals

• DOI: 10.1136/vr.125.4.83
• Publication Date: 2010-10-05T01:07:03Z
• Authors: B. Perry; E. Schmidtmann; R. Rice; J. Hansen; M. Fletcher; E. Turner; M. Robl; N. Hahn
• Keywords: Domestic animal

A serological study of antibodies to Ehrlichia risticii was carried out on 10 species wild and domestic mammals found or near 21 horse farms in an area the USA which Potomac fever is endemic. No were 133 peridomestic rodents (Norway rats house mice), nor 108 (white-footed mice meadow voles) captured farms. Three six animal examined, cats, pigs a goat, showed evidence exposure E risticii. Seropositive animals detected three premises. The eight seropositive cats (of 48 tested) two farms, 14 all one farm lay some 3 km from where goat found. None 79 dogs, 75 cattle seven sheep tested had significance these findings discussed light current understanding transmission epidemiology other related ehrlichial diseases.