Detection and molecular characterization of canine babesiosis causative agent Babesia canis in the naturally infected dog in Lithuania

Paulauskas, Algimantas; Radzijevskaja, Jana; Karvelienė, Birutė; Grigonis, Aidas; Aleksandravičienė, Asta; Zamokas, Gintaras; Babickaitė, Lina; Sabūnas, Vytautas; Petkevičius, Saulius

doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.09.001

Cited by 22 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Arthropod-borne diseases are increasing in Lithuania [69, 70] and other European countries [71]. The samples examined in this study were also tested for the presence of tick-borne pathogens such as Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia canis and possible co-infection with D. repens (data not shown).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dirofilaria repens in dogs and humans in Lithuania

et al. 2019

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Background In Lithuania, the first case of canine subcutaneous dirofilariosis was recorded in 2010. Since then, an increasing number of cases of canine dirofilariosis have been documented in different veterinary clinics throughout the country. Human dirofilariosis was diagnosed in Lithuania for the first time in September 2011. However, to the authors’ knowledge, there are no published data on the presence and prevalence of autochthonous dirofilariosis in dogs and humans in the country. The present study provides information about the predominant species and prevalence of Dirofilaria in dogs and describes the cases of human dirofilariosis in Lithuania. It also outlines PCR detection of the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia that contributes to the inflammatory features of filarioid infection. Results A total of 2280 blood samples and six adult worms from pet and shelter dogs were collected in the central and eastern regions of Lithuania in 2013–2015. Based on their morphological appearance, morphometric measurements and molecular analysis, all the adult nematodes were identified as Dirofilaria repens. The diagnosis of microfilariae in blood samples was based on blood smear analysis and Knott’s test. The PCR and sequence analysis of the ribosomal DNA ITS2 region and cox 1 gene confirmed the presence of D. repens . Overall, 61 (2.7%) of the 2280 blood samples were found to be positive for the presence of D. repens. The infection rate of D. repens was significantly higher in shelter dogs (19.0%; 19/100) than in pet dogs (1.9%; 42/2180) ( χ 2 = 100.039, df = 1, P < 0.0001). Forty-nine DNA samples of D. repens -infected dogs were tested for the presence of the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia and, of these, 40 samples (81.6%) were found to be positive. Three ocular and six subcutaneous cases of human dirofilariosis were diagnosed in Lithuania in the period 2011–2018. Conclusions To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of autochthonous D. repens infection in dogs and humans in Lithuania. The present data demonstrate that D. repens is the main etiological agent of dirofilariosis in Lithuania. The DNA of the filarioid endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia was detected in the vast majority of dogs infected with D. repens .

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dirofilaria repens in dogs and humans in Lithuania

et al. 2019

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“…However, not all animals showed clinical signs at the time of diagnosis. Variable rates of babesiosis have been reported worldwide, from 0.1% in Turkey to 87.8% in Lithuania [16,17]. The fact that Babesia species are transported transovarially through ticks implies that the infection may remain endemic in areas for a long time [18].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health problems of Iraqi police dogs referred to Baghdad Veterinary Hospital during 2015-2017

Tamimi

Wali

2019

Vet World

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Background and Aim: Police dogs in Iraq have been working mostly as explosive detectors since 2003. The health problems of these dogs are unique and have not been reported in literature. This investigation assessed the prevalence of health problems in Police dogs referred to Baghdad Veterinary Hospital during 2015-2017. Materials and Methods: A total of 1220 police dogs that were referred to Baghdad Veterinary Hospital in 2015-2017 were studied. The dogs were mostly German Shepherd dogs (GSDs) or Belgian Malinois (BM), with an average age of 4.6 years. The dogs' health problems and some of their risk factors were studied. Results: Congestive heart failure (CHF), babesiosis, various malignancies, and intestinal parasites were the most commonly diagnosed health problems, followed by general aging, bronchopneumonia, otitis, nutritional deficiencies, and anemia. GSDs were more prone to CHF, while BM had more diagnoses of malignancies. Age was associated with both health conditions. Conclusion: The presence of health problems in these working dogs highlights the need for a stricter and more organized preventive schedule to keep the dogs healthy and efficient at old age.

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“…Based on the time between traveling in the United Kingdom, Poland, Germany, and France and the onset of clinical signs of babesiosis in dog 1, and the lack of antibodies against Babesia in dogs 2 and 3, the described infections were likely related to the travel. However, autochthonous B. canis infections have been diagnosed in the other Baltic countries than Estonia [ 1 , 17 ] and it is therefore possible that the infections were acquired in Estonia.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fatal Babesia canis canis infection in a splenectomized Estonian dog

et al. 2015

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A previously splenectomized dog from Estonia was presented with a sudden lack of appetite and discoloration of the urine. Despite supportive therapy, its condition deteriorated dramatically during 1 day. Severe thrombocytopenia and high numbers of protozoan hemoparasites were evident in blood smears, and the hematocrit dropped from 46 to 33 %. The dog was euthanized before specific antibabesial treatment was initiated. Blood samples from the dog and from two other dogs in the same household tested positive for Babesia using molecular methods, and the sequences of partial 18S rRNA gene confirmed the causative species as Babesia canis canis. The risk of severe, rapidly progressing babesiosis in splenectomized dogs merits awareness.

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Detection and molecular characterization of canine babesiosis causative agent Babesia canis in the naturally infected dog in Lithuania

Cited by 22 publications

References 15 publications

Dirofilaria repens in dogs and humans in Lithuania

Dirofilaria repens in dogs and humans in Lithuania

Health problems of Iraqi police dogs referred to Baghdad Veterinary Hospital during 2015-2017

Fatal Babesia canis canis infection in a splenectomized Estonian dog

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