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- Title
Molecular detection of vector-borne bacteria and protozoa in healthy hunting dogs from Central Italy.
- Authors
Ebani, Valentina Virginia; Nardoni, Simona; Fognani, Giulia; Mugnaini, Linda; Bertelloni, Fabrizio; Rocchigiani, Guido; Papini, Roberto Amerigo; Stefani, Francesco; Mancianti, Francesca
- Abstract
Objective: To determine the prevalence of vector-borne bacteria and protozoa in hunting dogs living in Central Italy. Methods: Molecular testing was executed on DNA which was extracted from blood specimens collected from 117 asymptomatic dogs to detect Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia canis ( B. canis ) , Bartonella spp., Coxiella burnetii ( C. burnetii ) , Ehrlichia canis, Hepatozoon canis, and Leishmania infantum . Results: A total of 48 dogs (41.0%) were infested by Ixodes ricinus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks. Tick-borne infections were observed in 64 (54.7%) animals. More in detail, 38 dogs (32.5%) screened positive for Hepatozoon canis , 24 (20.5%) for Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii , 20 (17.1%) for Leishmania infantum , 6 (5.1%) for C. burnetii , 5 (4.3%) for B. canis (3 B. canis vogeli and 2 B. canis canis ), 3 (2.5%) for Anaplasma phagocytophilum , and 2 (1.7%) for Ehrlichia canis . Mixed infection by 2 agents occurred in 17 (14.5%) subjects, by 3 agents in 7 (6.0%) dogs, and by 4 agents in 1 (0.9%) animal. Conclusions: The results demonstrated that several vector-borne pathogens were circulating in this region and dogs infected by these agents were usually asymptomatic. A relevant finding was the presence of DNA of C. burnetii , a severe zoonotic agent, in the 5.1% of tested dogs, which can be source of infection for their owners not only through tick bites, but also directly with urine, feces and birth products.
- Subjects
CENTRAL Italy; DISEASE vectors; PROTOZOA; HUNTING dogs; MOLECULAR diagnosis; DNA analysis; ANAPLASMA phagocytophilum; DISEASES
- Publication
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, 2015, Vol 5, Issue 2, p108
- ISSN
2221-1691
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1016/S2221-1691(15)30153-2