Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, and D. immitis in hunting dogs from southern Italy

Piantedosi, Diego; Neola, Benedetto; D’Alessio, Nicola; Prisco, Francesca Di; Santoro, Mario; Pacifico, Laura; Sgroi, Giovanni; Auletta, Luigi; Buch, Jesse; Chandrashekar, Ramaswamy; Breitschwerdt, Edward B.; Veneziano, Vincenzo

doi:10.1007/s00436-017-5574-z

Cited by 40 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…Altough an E. canis-like organism has been described in humans in Venezuela [45], to date this VBD is not considered zoonotic. The infection rate by E. canis , much lower than that recorded for R. conorii , could appear unexpected, but it is similar with that recorded in a recent study from southern Italy [46]. It should be noted that different lineages of R. sanguineus have a low capacity to transmit E. canis [47], thus explaining why in some cases the prevalence of E. canis infection could result lower than expected [48, 49].…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 68%

Endoparasites and vector-borne pathogens in dogs from Greek islands: pathogen distribution and zoonotic implications

Diakou

Cesare

Morelli

et al. 2018

Preprint

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29The present study investigated the presence of endo-and ecto-parasites, and vector-borne pathogens, 30 in dogs from four islands of Greece. A total of 200 owned and sheltered dogs were examined with 31 different microscopic, serological and molecular methods. 32Of the examined dogs, 130 (65%) were positive for one or more parasites and/or vector-borne 33 pathogens. The most common zoonotic intestinal helminths recorded were Ancylostomatidae 34 (12.5%) and Toxocara canis (3.5%). Ninety-three dogs (46.5%) seroreacted to Rickettsia conorii. 35 Twenty-two (11%) of them were also PCR positive and 7 (3.5%) showed corpuscoles suggestive of 36 Rickettsia spp. on the blood smears. Nineteen dogs (9.5%) were seropositive for Ehrlichia canis, three 37 of them being also PCR positive. Dogs positive for Anaplasma phagocytophilum-Anaplasma platys 38 (1%), Dirofilaria immitis (0.5%) and Babesia canis (0.5%) were also found. Fleas and ticks were 39 recorded in 53 (26.5%) and 50 (25%) dogs and all specimens were identified as Ctenocephalides felis 40 felis and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu latu. Binary multiple univariate Generalized Linear Models 41 were used to investigate factors and clinical signs related to the recorded positivity, while the 42 association of specific signs with the pathogens was evaluated using tests of independence. 43 Knowledge of occurrence and impact of zoonotic parasites and vector-borne pathogens in dog 44 populations is crucial to prevent the infection in animals and people, and to control the risk of 45 spreading of these pathogens in endemic and non-endemic areas. 46 47 Author summary 48 Both owned and sheltered dogs can harbor a variety of intestinal and extra-intestinal endoparasites, 49as well as vector-borne pathogens and ectoparasites, of zoonotic concern. Dog shelters and stray dogs 50 are present in several touristic areas of Greece, including Sporades and Cyclades islands, where 51 tourists often bring their pets with them, likely travelling from non-endemic to endemic areas. The 52 present study has been carried out with the aim to evaluate the occurrence of the aforementioned 53 pathogens. Data obtained showed that they are present in canine populations of Greece, with 54 possibilities of infection for travelling dogs, which can also contribute to the spreading of zoonotic 55 vector-borne diseases, introducing new pathogens in previously non-endemic areas. For these 56 reasons, a constant monitoring of the epidemiological situation, improving control measures and 57 correct diagnostic approaches are of primary importance for the prevention of canine and human 58 infections, decreasing the spreading of potentially deadly pathogens. 59 60 61 62 65circulation of zoonotic infections are difficult to control. Because of a lifestyle that implies a low-66 grade of sanitary management, stray and free-roaming dogs are at high risk of becoming infected with 67 a wide range of pathogens. Consequently, they act as a permanent source of infection for vectors, 68 other animals an...

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 68%

Endoparasites and vector-borne pathogens in dogs from Greek islands: pathogen distribution and zoonotic implications

Diakou

Cesare

Morelli

et al. 2018

Preprint

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“…Similar to the results of this study, dogs with clinical manifestations compatible with CME were previously shown to experience a higher E canis seroprevalence; however, this association was not substantiated in other studies, while in several other studies, the health status of the tested animals was not sufficiently clarified or specifically assessed as a risk factor for seroreactivity . No signalment pattern has consistently been associated with E canis seropositivity in previous studies.…”

Section: The Associations Between the Presence Of Anti‐ehrlichia Canisupporting

confidence: 70%

“…It appears, therefore, that in Greece, E canis serologic testing might be justifiable not only in dogs admitted with clinical and clinicopathologic suspicion of CME, but also during routine wellness visits. Several surveys have previously suggested high exposure rates in other Mediterranean countries, including Spain (3%‐55%), Italy (7%‐47%), Portugal (4%‐26%), and Tunisia (54%) . High seroprevalence has also been reported in countries bordering Greece, including Albania (21%), Bulgaria (21%‐38%), and Turkey (21%‐28%) .…”

Section: The Associations Between the Presence Of Anti‐ehrlichia Canimentioning

confidence: 98%

“…In this study, seropositive dogs tended to be older than seronegative dogs, but no association was found between seropositivity and breed, gender, or genital status. Although older dogs would intuitively be expected to experience higher seropositivities, the latter has not been invariably documented . Regional and lifestyle‐associated (owned vs stray dogs, accommodations in private vs public shelters, the size of dog packs, and indoor vs outdoor living) differences, the season when blood was tested and the geographic origin of the E canis antigen embedded in the assay, could occasionally be the determinants of seropositivity …”

Section: The Associations Between the Presence Of Anti‐ehrlichia Canimentioning

confidence: 99%

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Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Ehrlichia canis in a hospital canine population

Chochlios

Angelidou

Kritsepi‐Konstantinou

et al. 2019

Veterinary Clinical Pathol

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Ehrlichia canis (E canis) is the principal cause of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) and the only Ehrlichia spp that has been identified in the dogs of Europe. 1 Clinical recovery is the expected outcome of acutely infected dogs entering the subclinical phase, which could last several months to years; however, an unpredictable proportion of dogs will eventually develop the chronic phase, typically characterized by aplastic pancytopenia and a high mortality. 2 Fever, depression, anorexia, lymphadenomegaly, splenomegaly, mucosal pallor, ocular abnormalities, bleeding tendencies, and thrombocytopenia or bi-pancytopenia are common clinical and hematologic findings in CME. 1,2 The indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test and several in-clinic assays have enabled the comprehensive evaluation of exposure to E canis in dogs living in or traveling across endemic areas. 3 Several Abstract Background: Ehrlichia canis (E canis) infection has been documented in a few small canine case series in Greece. However, there is limited information on the prevalence of exposure to, or the potential risk factors associated with E canis seroreactivity in a large native canine population. Objectives:The objectives of this study were to evaluate E canis seroprevalence in dogs admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital, and to investigate the potential association between seropositivity and signalment, health status, the serologic assays used, and selected clinical and clinicopathologic abnormalities. Methods:The medical records of 850 client-owned dogs, tested using three in-office serologic assays, were retrospectively reviewed. Results:The E canis seroprevalence was significantly higher in sick (54.9%) compared with healthy (33.9%) dogs. Seropositivity differed significantly between the serologic assays used in this study (ImmunoComb vs SNAP 3Dx/SNAP 4Dx). Dogs presenting with bleeding tendencies, anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, pancytopenia, and hyperproteinemia were more likely to be E canis seropositive, and the median hematocrit (HCT), white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil, and platelet values were significantly lower in seropositive compared with seronegative dogs. Conclusions:A high E canis seroprevalence was documented in a canine population living in an endemic area. Selected clinicopathologic variables might be useful indicators of E canis exposure and could allow the prioritization of serologic testing in the clinical setting. K E Y W O R D Sdog, monocytic ehrlichiosis, serology

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“…In agreement with our results, other studies found that dogs infested with R. sanguineus were more likely to be infected with or exposed to Anaplasma spp. than uninfested dogs [62,75,76]. Overall, our results suggest that the risk of infection with A. platy is more associated with the tick abundance than just the presence of the tick.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

Canine vector-borne pathogens in rural dogs in Chile: molecular survey and co-infection patterns

Cevidanes¹,

Cataldo²,

Martín³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: Canine vector-borne pathogens (CVBP) comprise a relevant and globally distributed group of disease agents. The aim of this study is to determine de co-occurrence of the most relevant CVBP of veterinary and zoonotic interest, in free-ranging, owned, rural dogs of central Chile, and to evaluate risk factors and potential non-apparent hematological alterations associated to pathogen co-infection by two or more agents.Methods: Nine groups of canine vector-borne pathogens (CVBP) were molecularly investigated in 111 free-ranging, owned rural dogs in the Metropolitan Region of Chile. Results: At least one pathogen was detected in 75% of the dogs. The most prevalent agent was Anaplasma platys (36%), followed by Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum (CMhp; 31%), Mycoplasma haemocanis (Mhc; 28%), Trypanosoma cruzi (17%), Leishmania spp. (4.5%) and Acanthocheilonema reconditum (1%). DNA of Ehrlichia spp., Rickettsia spp., Bartonella spp., Piroplasmida and Hepatozoon spp. was not detected. Thirty-eight dogs (34%) were coinfected, either by two (n=20), three (n=7), or four agents (n=1). The most common co-infection pattern was CMhp – Mhc (n=14). CMhp was involved in 71%, Mhc in 58%, and A. platys in 50% of the co-infections. Prevalence of A. platys was higher in juvenile than in adult dogs, whereas the opposite was found for CMhp and Mhc. Adult dogs had five times more probabilities of being coinfected than young animals. Dogs positive for A. platys were infested by a larger number of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks than uninfected individuals. At clinical evaluation, most of the animals were considered healthy, with only eight dogs (7%) presenting pale mucous membranes. Co-infected animals showed higher white blood cell count, segmented neutrophil count and GGT levels than non-co-infected dogs. Conclusions: Widespread occurrence of and co-infection by CVBP was found in rural free-ranging dogs of central Chile. This study represents the first report of Leishmania spp. in Chile. Clinically healthy but infected dogs as those studied here may act as reservoirs of CVBP, potentially contributing to the spread of these pathogens to other tick-exposed dogs as well as human beings or wild carnivores.

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Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, and D. immitis in hunting dogs from southern Italy

Cited by 40 publications

References 57 publications

Endoparasites and vector-borne pathogens in dogs from Greek islands: pathogen distribution and zoonotic implications

Endoparasites and vector-borne pathogens in dogs from Greek islands: pathogen distribution and zoonotic implications

Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Ehrlichia canis in a hospital canine population

Canine vector-borne pathogens in rural dogs in Chile: molecular survey and co-infection patterns

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