Vector-borne pathogens affecting shelter dogs in eastern Crete, Greece

Abstract

Canine pathogens transmitted by blood-sucking arthropods are of significant importance for veterinary and, in some cases, human health. However, they are still underestimated and rarely investigated in many parts of the Mediterranean region, mostly due to financial reasons. Therefore, in the present paper, we investigated the occurrence of blood-associated pathogens affecting dogs in Crete, Greece. For this purpose, blood samples from 103 shelter dogs were screened for the pathogens by PCR and serological tests. Overall, samples from 43 dogs scored positive for at least one pathogen (41.8%). In particular, antibodies to Leishmania infantum were detected in 26 dogs (25.2%), and 15 and 11 animals were positive for Hepatozoon canis (14.6%) and Mycoplasma haemocanis (10.7%) by PCR, respectively. Co-infections were recorded in nine animals. Clinical signs indicative of infection (alterations of skin or coat or reduced body condition) were detected in 10 animals, four of which were infected with one pathogen, three with two pathogens. Based on the results obtained, dogs from Crete appear to be frequently exposed to several blood-borne pathogens, including agents of zoonotic concern. Given that some of the pathogens were reported for the first time in this area, results presented in our study should improve the awareness of the local veterinarians and of dog rescue organisations in order to reduce disease burden on stray and owned dogs and to control the spread of canine vector-borne diseases from Greece to non-endemic areas by travelling or exported infected dogs.

Mapping the canine vector-borne disease risk in a Mediterranean area

“…In these previous studies, the seroprevalence of L. infantum found in dogs in Corfu, an island in the Ionian Sea close to Paxoi, was 50.2%, whereas in our sample from Paxoi it was 33.9% by the rapid test and 16.9% by ELISA. Accordingly, the prevalence previously reported for islands located in the South Aegean Sea ranged from 10.7% to 42% [11,12,17], rates which were to some extent higher than recorded in the present study (30% and 20% for Crete and 6.7% and 6.3% for Leros in the rapid test and ELISA, respectively).…”

“…A cross-sectional study was conducted in canine populations from different Greek Islands in order to evaluate the seroprevalence of CVBPs. In total, 4 islands were selected based on their geographical location [(i) situated in both Ionian and Aegean seas; (ii) covering areas West to East of the country; (iii) having different landscapes and climatic conditions], the size of their native dog population (traditionally islands like Leros and Paxoi despite their size are known for the high hunting dog population), and previous records (published or personal communication) of CVBD presence [11,12,[14][15][16][17]. Altogether, 1154 dogs with different lifestyles (indoors/outdoors), irrespective of age and breed were randomly sampled and examined for the presence of clinical signs suggestive of CVBDs.…”

“…19.8 million international airport arrivals from January to October 2018, with 4.5 million arrivals on Crete alone [10]), many of whom travel with their pets. Overall, located in the Mediterranean basin with a suitable environment for pathogen transmission and poorly managed stray dog populations, Greece has been repeatedly reported as an area highly endemic for various CVBDs [11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. However, landscape and microclimate conditions are not identical throughout the country and this stresses the need for comprehensive knowledge on the distribution and abundance of various CVBPs within native dog populations and across different islands, which currently is missing.…”

Simultaneous Detection of Parasitic Vector Borne Diseases: A Robust Cross-Sectional Survey in Hunting, Stray and Sheep Dogs in a Mediterranean Area

“…(3). The interest on CVBDs has grown in the last two decades and therefore an increased number of studies have been published in the recent few years (4). The epidemiology of CVBDs (i.e., geographical distribution, prevalence, and pathogenicity) is changing due to several factors, especially climatic changes, ecosystem changes, increased mobility of dogs and humans and developing phenomena of chemoresistance to insecticides and acaricides (5).…”

“…The epidemiology of CVBDs (i.e., geographical distribution, prevalence, and pathogenicity) is changing due to several factors, especially climatic changes, ecosystem changes, increased mobility of dogs and humans and developing phenomena of chemoresistance to insecticides and acaricides (5). Consequently, CVBDs are spreading into areas considered non-endemic until recently (4).…”