Abstract
BackgroundCanine vector-borne diseases have a worldwide distribution, but to the best of our knowledge, no research has been carried out to evaluate their presence on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. An investigation into canine vector-borne infections was conducted in dogs (n = 78) resident at an animal shelter in Port Louis, Mauritius using a combination of traditional microscopy and serological methods.MethodsTicks were manually collected from the stray dog population for identification as well as for quantifying tick burdens. Blood was also collected from each dog via either the jugular vein or the cephalic vein, and was stored in EDTA tubes. The stored blood was then used to measure PCV values, make blood smears for the identification of parasites, and used for serological testing of vector-borne disease.ResultsA total of 178 ticks were collected from 52 dogs and identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus (175/178) or Amblyomma variegatum (3/178). Twenty-six (33%; 95% CI 23, 45) dogs were seropositive for Ehrlichia spp., and 12 (15%; 95% CI 8, 25) for Anaplasma spp., Dirofilaria antigen was detected in 14 (18%; 95% CI 10, 28), and nine (12%; 95% CI 5, 21) dogs had Hepatozoon canis gamonts observed in blood films during microscopic examination. Eleven (14%; 95% CI 7, 24) dogs were co-infected with two pathogens. Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies were not detected in any dogs.ConclusionsInfection with these pathogens had no significant effect on the packed cell volume (PCV), but high tick burdens were significantly associated with the presence of a tick-borne pathogen. This is the first study of its kind on the dog population in Mauritius and demonstrates the presence of previously undocumented canine vector-borne infections on the island. The relatively high proportion of infected dogs within the study should alert clinicians to the presence of canine vector-borne diseases on the island of Mauritius.
Highlights
Canine vector-borne diseases have a worldwide distribution, but to the best of our knowledge, no research has been carried out to evaluate their presence on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius
Serology and microscopy test results Antibodies to Ehrlichia spp. and Anaplasma spp. were detected in 26/78 (33%; 95% CI 23, 45), and 12/78 (15%; 95% CI 8, 25) dogs, respectively, and antigenaemia indicative of Dirofilaria immitis infection was detected in 14/78 dogs (18%; 95% CI 10, 28)
None of the dogs tested positive for Borrelia burgdorferi, yet four (5%; 95% CI 1, 13) had co-infections with Ehrlichia and Anaplasma (Table 1)
Summary
Canine vector-borne diseases have a worldwide distribution, but to the best of our knowledge, no research has been carried out to evaluate their presence on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. An investigation into canine vector-borne infections was conducted in dogs (n = 78) resident at an animal shelter in Port Louis, Mauritius using a combination of traditional microscopy and serological methods. The mean humidity around the island is generally >80% but rainfall varies significantly between regions, with approximately 5000 mm/ year on the high grounds and only 1000 mm/year in the coastal regions. Anaplasmosis, hepatozoonosis and dirofilariasis are vector-borne diseases with a worldwide distribution, yet to the best of our knowledge there have been no studies into the occurrence or prevalence of these diseases in dogs in Mauritius [1,2]. Vector-borne diseases traditionally pose a diagnostic challenge due to their nonspecific symptomology and often sub-clinical nature, Lee et al Parasites & Vectors (2015) 8:174 a high degree of diagnostic suspicion is required by veterinarians in order to make a diagnosis [3]
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