Bacterial and protozoal agents of canine vector-borne diseases in the blood of domestic and stray dogs from southern Portugal

• DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0759-8
• Publication Date: 2015-03-02T05:58:42Z
• Authors: Carla Maia; Bruno Almeida; Mónica Coimbra; Maria Fernandes; José Cristóvão; Cláudia Ramos; Ângela Martins; Filipe Martinho; Pedro Silva; Nuno Neves; Mónica Nunes; Maria Vieira; Luís Cardoso; Lenea Campino
• Keywords: Hepatozoon; Ehrlichia canis; Bartonella; Parasitology

The so-called canine vector-borne diseases (CVBD) are caused by a wide range of pathogens transmitted arthropods. In addition to their veterinary importance, many these can also affect the human population due zoonotic potential, situation that requires One Health approach. As prevalence in cats from southern Portugal has been recently evaluated, aim present study was assess if same agents were dogs living area, and positivity-associated risk factors. thousand ten (521 domestic 489 stray) medical centres animal shelters enrolled. Anaplasma spp./Ehrlichia spp., Bartonella Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Babesia Hepatozoon spp. Leishmania infantum infections evaluated polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays blood samples. Sixty-eight (6.7%) PCR-positive at least one tested CVBD agent species, genera or complex, including dog found positive two different genera. Nineteen (1.9%) eight (0.8%) B. s.l., 31 (3.1%) 11 (1.1%) L. infantum. platys, Ehrlichia canis, burgdorferis.l. canis identified DNA sequencing, confirmed with both A. platys H. canis. Furthermore, Wolbachia amplified four dogs. None PCR for molecular identification Portugal, some them concern, reinforces importance alert community, owners public health authorities prevent transmission among other vertebrate hosts humans. selected lower than previously region, probably because veterinarians more aware control measures used often.