2.1. Serum panel
Sera from 32 B. canis naturally infected dogs were collected from an outbreak occurred in a breeding kennel of Central Italy during summer 2020. The positivity to B. canis was confirmed by isolation of the bacterium from blood cultures. Negative sera were collected from 26 healthy dogs, which were not related to B. canis outbreaks. Sera were collected by local veterinary services according to Italian and European regulations for animal welfare.