We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
The Prevalence, Seroprevalence, and Risk Factors of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus in Dogs in Lithuania, a Highly Endemic State.
- Authors
Simkute, Evelina; Pautienius, Arnoldas; Grigas, Juozas; Urbute, Paulina; Stankevicius, Arunas
- Abstract
The rising awareness and increasing number of case reports of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in dogs indicate that the virus might be an important tick-borne pathogen in dogs, especially in endemic areas. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence rate of TBEV RNA and TBEV-specific antibodies in clinical samples of dogs living in a highly endemic region of Lithuania and to evaluate the main risk factors for severe disease course and death. The blood samples (n = 473) of dogs were collected in two veterinary clinics in central Lithuania. Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) RNA was detected in 18.6% (88/473; CI 95% 15.2–22.4) and TBEV-specific antibodies were found in 21.6% (102/473; CI 95% 17.9–25.6) of dog blood serum samples after confirmation with a virus neutralization test. The death/euthanasia rate was 18.2% (16/88; CI 95% 10.8–27.8) in PCR-positive dogs. Male dogs were more likely to develop neurological symptoms (p = 0.008). Older dogs (p = 0.003), dogs with the presence of neurological symptoms (p = 0.003), and dogs with the presence of TBEV-specific antibodies (p = 0.024) were more likely to experience worse outcomes of the disease. The results of the present study demonstrate that TBEV is a common and clinically important pathogen in dogs in such endemic countries as Lithuania.
- Subjects
LITHUANIA; TICK-borne encephalitis viruses; DOGS; TICK-borne encephalitis; DISEASE risk factors; SEROPREVALENCE; FLAVIVIRUSES
- Publication
Viruses (1999-4915), 2023, Vol 15, Issue 11, p2265
- ISSN
1999-4915
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/v15112265