A serological survey of tick-borne pathogens in dogs in North America and the Caribbean as assessed by Anaplasma phagocytophilum, A. platys, Ehrlichia canis, E. chaffeensis, E. ewingii, and Borrelia burgdorferi species-specific peptides

Abstract

IntroductionTick-borne pathogens cause a spectrum of disease manifestations in both dogs and humans. Recognizing regional and temporal shifts in exposure are important as tick distributions change. To better delineate regional exposure to canine tick-borne pathogens, an expanded set of species-specific peptides were used to detect Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Aph), Anaplasma platys (Apl), Ehrlichia canis (Ec), Ehrlichia chaffeensis (Ech), Ehrlichia ewingii (Eew), and Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) antibodies in canine serum.MethodsArchived canine serum samples (n=6,582) collected during 2008–2010 and in 2012 from the US, Canada, and the Caribbean were retrospectively screened for antibodies against Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species-specific peptides. Overall, regional and temporal seroprevalence rates were determined.ResultsOverall Bb and Eew were the most seroprevalent pathogens. During 2008–2010, seroprevalence rates increased overall for Aph and Ech, and regionally, Bb and Aph seroprevalence rates increased in the South. Canada had unexpectedly high seroprevalence rates for Ec and Apl. The most common co-exposures were Eew+Ech, followed by Aph+Bb and Eew+Bb.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated significant shifts in canine vector-borne disease seroprevalence rates. The use of specific peptides facilitated improved geographic delineation of tick-borne pathogen distributions among dogs, which may enhance epidemiological surveillance of vector-borne pathogens shared by dogs and humans.

Molecular prevalence and ecoregion distribution of select tick‐borne pathogens in Texas dogs

“…A total of 121 samples from each ecoregion, with the exception of 82 from the Trans‐Pecos ecoregion due to limited availability, were collected in order to estimate true prevalence of disease. The sample set number was calculated assuming a TBD prevalence rate of 2% (seroprevalence) in Texas at a confidence interval of 95% (Beall et al., ; Bowman et al., ; Esteve‐Gasent et al., ; Humphry, Cameron, & Gunn, ; Little et al., , ; Qurollo et al., ). Blood samples were collected opportunistically from two TVMDL clinical pathology departments located in College Station, TX ( n = 960) and Amarillo, TX ( n = 211).…”

“…Few molecular prevalence studies concerning TBDs in dogs have been conducted in the U.S., including limited surveillance in dogs residing in Minnesota (Beall et al, 2008) and Oklahoma (Little et al, 2010), but none within Texas. Instead, the majority of TBD prevalence studies in the U.S. have been limited to molecular detection in humans (Harris et al, 2016;Heitman, Dahlgren, Drexler, Massung, & Behravesh, 2016), or serological analyses in dogs (Beall et al, 2012;Bowman et al, 2009;Esteve-Gasent et al, 2017;Little et al, 2010Little et al, , 2014Qurollo et al, 2014). The consensus from these reports indicated an approximate TBD seroprevalence of 2% across Texas.…”

Borrelia burgdorferiInfection and Lyme Disease in North American Horses: A Consensus Statement

“…Part of the challenge in reviewing the literature is that there has been no standardized method or organization responsible for studying some of the important changes in Ixodes populations and B. burgdorferi presence or infection rates in dogs and horses and, as a result, data sets are more limited than is ideal. There are data on the temporal changes in seroprevalence of B. burgdorferi in dogs . Based on 66,582 samples submitted to the Vector Borne Disease Lab at North Carolina State University, data supports a temporal increase in B. burgdorferi infection in dogs in the southern United States between 2008 and 2010 .…”

“…There are data on the temporal changes in seroprevalence of B. burgdorferi in dogs . Based on 66,582 samples submitted to the Vector Borne Disease Lab at North Carolina State University, data supports a temporal increase in B. burgdorferi infection in dogs in the southern United States between 2008 and 2010 . A baseline B. burgdorferi antibody prevalence map (Fig ) for dogs has been developed by a Bayesian spatio‐temporal model .…”

BartonellaSeroepidemiology in Dogs from North America, 2008–2014

“…In addition, seroreactivity data can guide clinical decision making. For example, coinfection with multiple vector‐borne pathogens can cause more severe manifestations of disease, and determining exposure to Bartonella in dogs suspected of other CVBD is warranted …”