Canine and feline vector-borne diseases in Italy: current situation and perspectives

Abstract

In Italy, dogs and cats are at risk of becoming infected by different vector-borne pathogens, including protozoa, bacteria, and helminths. Ticks, fleas, phlebotomine sand flies, and mosquitoes are recognized vectors of pathogens affecting cats and dogs, some of which (e.g., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi, Dipylidium caninum, Leishmania infantum, Dirofilaria immitis, and Dirofilaria repens) are of zoonotic concern. Recent studies have highlighted the potential of fleas as vectors of pathogens of zoonotic relevance (e.g., Rickettsia felis) in this country. While some arthropod vectors (e.g., ticks and fleas) are present in certain Italian regions throughout the year, others (e.g., phlebotomine sand flies) are most active during the summer season. Accordingly, control strategies, such as those relying on the systematic use of acaricides and insecticides, should be planned on the basis of the ecology of both vectors and pathogens in different geographical areas in order to improve their effectiveness in reducing the risk of infection by vector-borne pathogens. This article reviews the current situation and perspectives of canine and feline vector-borne diseases in Italy.

Detection of Leishmania (V) guyanensis in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) collected from Pecari tajacu

“…Las garrapatas son endémicas en India, Asia, Australia, Madagascar, África, el Caribe, México, Centroamérica y Suramérica (9), y se consideran como el parásito del ganado más importante del mundo, aunque también infectan otros animales domésticos y salvajes (13,14). Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus se ha reportado como vector de Babesia bigemina, B. bovis y Anaplasma marginale y está presente en regiones tropicales y subtropicales en todo el mundo (15,16), pertenece a la familia Ixodidae, y parasita ovejas y ganado vacuno (16).…”

Investigação molecular de Ehrlichia spp. e Anaplasma platys em felinos domésticos: alterações clínicas, hematológicas e bioquímicas

“…Para Anaplasma phagocytophilum, as taxas de soro prevalência encontradas variaram de 1,8% a 4,3% em felinos domésti-cos (Bjoersdorff et al 1999;Lappin et al 2004;Solano-Gallego et al 2006;Billeter et al 2007). O método molecular também é descrito como ferramenta para detecção da infecção por Anaplasma phagocytophilum em felinos (Lappin et al 2005, Shaw et al 2005, Solano-Gallego et al 2006, Tabar et al 2008, Otranto & Dantas-Torres 2010, Santiago 2010.…”

“…Carrapatos infectados com mórulas compatíveis de Ehrlichia / Anaplasma spp. também foram encontrados em gatos (Buoro et al 1989, Bjöersdorf et al 1999, Tarello 2005, Otranto & Dantas-Torres, 2010. No entanto há descrição de casos de infecão por esses agentes nos felinos sem exposição á artrópodes (Charpentier et al 1986, Bouloy et al 1994, Beauϐils et al 1995.…”

Evaluation of blood and bone marrow in selected canine vector-borne diseases

“…The presence of vectorborne pathogens in the BM may induce substantial alterations in erythrocyte, granulocyte, monocyte, lymphocyte and thrombocyte numbers and/or function. Despite the high prevalence of CVBDs [6], only a few studies have investigated BM alterations in dogs infected solely by L. infantum [8][9][10] or by Ehrlichia canis [11]. In these studies, BM alterations associated with infections by L. infantum included emperipolesis, megakaryocytes dysplasia and BM aplasia, whereas myelosuppression was induced by E. canis infection.…”