Abstract
Belgrade, the capital of the Republic of Serbia, is an endemic location for canine babesiosis caused by Babesia canis. This tick-borne disease occurs seasonally in regions with moderate continental climate. However, recent clinical data show that: 1) some cases of canine babesiosis have been recorded during the winter, and 2) canine babesiosis is spreading to the northern parts of Europe with a colder climate, which is a region previously free of this disease. Our study investigates the occurrence of canine babesiosis in different seasons over 2013–2016, and explores a short-term link between meteorological parameters and number of diagnosed cases of canine babesiosis in Belgrade. It also looks into possible long-term correlations that span one year before the onset of the disease. Based on 872 recorded cases over four years, our results show a bimodal seasonal distribution of canine babesiosis, with a pronounced peak in the spring, and a less conspicuous one in the autumn. Throughout the year, even over the coldest and warmest periods, there is a broad range of temperatures and relative humidities when the disease is recorded. Over one year prior to the spring and autumn onset of the disease, we found a noticeable impact of temperature and relative humidity, and to a lesser extent, of atmospheric pressure and cloud cover, on the number of diagnosed cases. These findings imply short-term and long-term relationships between occurrence of acute canine babesiosis and certain meteorological parameters, and they open further questions that need to be investigated in order to understand the epidemiology of this disease.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.