Prevalence of heartworm in dogs and cats of Madrid, Spain

Montoya-Alonso, José Alberto; Morchón, Rodrigo; Falcón-Cordón, Yaiza; Falcón-Cordón, S.; Simón, F.; Carretón, Elena

doi:10.1186/s13071-017-2299-x

Cited by 30 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…By habitat, prevalences were significantly lower in dogs living indoors. This agrees with previous studies carried out in vectorborne diseases (9,23,34). This result is understandable since indoor animals are more protected against the presence of vectors.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…When the results obtained for dirofilariosis were evaluated, it was observed that the prevalences obtained in this study maintain similar values with respect to the areas that had been evaluated in the last 5-6 years, such as Barcelona, Madrid, Salamanca, or the Canary Islands (7,8,34,35). However, regarding studies carried out more than 25 years ago, two phenomena can be observed: on the one hand, an increase in the prevalence in endemic areas in the south and east [i.e., Extremadura, Murcia, Valencian Community, Catalonia, Aragon; (36)(37)(38)(39)(40)] and, on the other hand, progressive increase in the prevalence of areas with little presence of the parasite, or very localized presence, as is the case of Galicia (9,36,41), Castilla y León (36,42), Castilla la Mancha (36,43), or the Balearic Islands (23).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 68%

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Current Distribution of Selected Vector-Borne Diseases in Dogs in Spain

et al. 2020

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Currently, climate change, modifications of landscapes and habitats due to human activities, as well as an increase in the movement of reservoirs and new species of competent vectors, have contributed to the spread of canine vector-borne diseases. These are mostly emerging and neglected diseases, some of them with zoonotic potential. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and distribution of four major canine vector-borne diseases (Dirofilaria immitis, Leishmania infantum, Anaplasma spp., and Ehrlichia canis) in Spain. Between September 2018 and February 2020, blood was sampled from 4643 client-owned dogs from 111 veterinary clinics from the 17 autonomous communities of Spain. All samples were tested for the detection of D. immitis antigens, and for antibodies against L. infantum, Anaplasma spp. and E. canis. Of the studied dogs, 22.14% were positive for one or several diseases while the prevalence was 6.25% (CI: 5.59-6.98) for D. immitis, and the seroprevalences were 10.36% (CI: 9.52-11.27) for L. infantum, 5.06% (CI: 4.47-5.73) for Anaplasma spp., and 4.26% (CI: 3.72-4.88) for E. canis. Co-infections by two and three vector-borne diseases were reported in 13% and 2% of the infected dogs, respectively. The studied vector-borne diseases are widely distributed throughout the Spanish geography, being observed and expanding northward in the case of D. immitis and L. infantum. The results point to an insufficiency of preventive measures to avoid the infection, and the need of the implementation of awareness campaigns among veterinarians and owners. Furthermore, a close collaboration between veterinarians, physicians and health authorities would be necessary for such zoonotic vector-borne diseases.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 68%

Current Distribution of Selected Vector-Borne Diseases in Dogs in Spain

et al. 2020

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“…Numerous species of Bartonella have been identified as pathogenic to humans while Bartonella vinsonii berkhoffii and Bartonella henselae are associated with clinical disease in dogs [ 21 ]. Dirofilariasis due to Dirofilaria immitis or Dirofilaria repens is another vector-borne disease transmitted by mosquitoes from the family Culicidae present in Europe [ 8 , 12 , 22 , 23 ] that can affect both animals and humans [ 24 ], causing cardiopulmonary or subcutaneous disease manifestations, respectively [ 24 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does co-infection with vector-borne pathogens play a role in clinical canine leishmaniosis?

et al. 2018

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BackgroundThe severity of canine leishmaniosis (CanL) due to Leishmania infantum might be affected by other vector-borne organisms that mimic its clinical signs and clinicopathological abnormalities. The aim of this study was to determine co-infections with other vector-borne pathogens based on serological and molecular techniques in dogs with clinical leishmaniosis living in Spain and to associate them with clinical signs and clinicopathological abnormalities as well as disease severity.MethodsSixty-one dogs with clinical leishmaniosis and 16 apparently healthy dogs were tested for Rickettsia conorii, Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Bartonella henselae antigens by the immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and for E. canis, Anaplasma spp., Hepatozoon spp., Babesia spp. and filarioid DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).ResultsAmong the dogs examined by IFAT, the seroprevalences were: 69% for R. conorii, 57% for E. canis, 44% for A. phagocytophilum and 37% for B. henselae; while the prevalences found by PCR were: 8% for Ehrlichia/Anaplasma, 3% for Anaplasma platys and 1% for H. canis. No other pathogen DNA was detected. Statistical association was found between dogs with clinical leishmaniosis and seroreactivity to R. conorii antigen (Fisher’s exact test: P = 0.025, OR = 4.1, 95% CI = 1–17) and A. phagocytophilum antigen (Fisher’s exact test: P = 0.002, OR = 14.3, 95% CI = 2–626) and being positive to more than one serological or molecular tests (co-infections) (Mann-Whitney test: U = 243, Z = -2.6, n1 = 14, n2 = 61, P = 0.01) when compared with healthy dogs. Interestingly, a statistical association was found between the presence of R. conorii, E. canis, A. phagocytophilum and B. henselae antibodies in sick dogs and some clinicopathological abnormalities such as albumin and albumin/globulin ratio decrease and increase in serum globulins. Furthermore, seroreactivity with A. phagocytophilum antigens was statistically associated with CanL clinical stages III and IV.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that dogs with clinical leishmaniosis from Catalonia (Spain) have a higher rate of co-infections with other vector-borne pathogens when compared with healthy controls. Furthermore, positivity to some vector-borne pathogens was associated with more marked clinicopathological abnormalities as well as disease severity with CanL.

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“…The prevalence of Diro laria spp. in cats varies between 0% and 33% across Europe [10,31,52,[91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98][99]. There does not seem to be any data on prevalence in Germany, speci cally.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Retrospective Evaluation of Vector-borne Infections in Cats Living in Germany (2012-2020)

Schäfer

Kohn

Volkmann

et al. 2020

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Background: Blood-feeding arthropods can transmit parasitic, bacterial, or viral pathogens to domestic animals and wildlife. Vector-borne infections are gaining significance due to the increase of travel, import of domestic animals from abroad, and due to the changing climate in Europe. The main objective of this retrospective study was to assess the prevalence of some vector-borne infections in cats in which a ‘Feline Travel Profile’ had been conducted. Methods: This retrospective study included test results from cats for which a ‘Feline Travel Profile’ established by the laboratory LABOKLIN had been requested by veterinarians in Germany between April 2012 and March 2020. This above-mentioned diagnostic panel contains direct detection methods via PCR for Hepatozoon spp. and Dirofilaria spp. as well as indirect detection methods via IFAT for Ehrlichia spp. and Leishmania spp. The profile was expanded to include an IFAT for Rickettsia spp. from July 2015 onwards. The prevalence of the different vector-borne infectious agents was calculated. Results: A total of 624 cats were tested using the ‘Feline Travel Profile’. Serological samples for indirect detection methods were available for all 624 cats, EDTA-samples for direct detection methods for 618 cats. Positive test results were as follows: Ehrlichia spp. IFAT 73 out of 624 (12%), Leishmania spp. IFAT 22 out of 624 (4%), Hepatozoon spp. PCR 53 out of 618 (9%), Dirofilaria spp. PCR 1 out of 618 cats (0.2%) and, tested from July 2015 onwards, Rickettsia spp. IFAT 52 out of 467 cats (11%). At least one infection was present in 175 out of 624 cats. Three coinfections were detected before 2015; after including the Rickettsia spp. test results there were 19 cats with confections (in 14 out of these 19 cats Rickettsia spp. were involved).Conclusions: 175 out of 624 cats (28%) were tested positive for at least one vector-borne pathogen. Infections with multiple pathogens could be detected in 4% of the cats from 2012 to 2020. The data emphasizes the importance of considering the above-mentioned vector-borne infections as potential differential diagnoses in cats.

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Prevalence of heartworm in dogs and cats of Madrid, Spain

Cited by 30 publications

References 24 publications

Current Distribution of Selected Vector-Borne Diseases in Dogs in Spain

Current Distribution of Selected Vector-Borne Diseases in Dogs in Spain

Does co-infection with vector-borne pathogens play a role in clinical canine leishmaniosis?

Retrospective Evaluation of Vector-borne Infections in Cats Living in Germany (2012-2020)

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