Canine vector-borne pathogens in semi-domesticated dogs residing in northern Cambodia.

Tawin Inpankaew,Rebecca J Traub,Sze Fui Hii,Wissanuwat Chimnoi

doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1552-z

Tawin Inpankaew, Rebecca J Traub + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-016-1552-z

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Abstract

BackgroundIn Southeast Asia, the canine vector-borne pathogens Babesia spp., Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, Hepatozoon canis, haemotropic mycoplasmas and Dirofilaria immitis cause significant morbidity and mortality in dogs. Moreover, dogs have also been implicated as natural reservoirs for Rickettsia felis, the agent of flea-borne spotted fever, increasingly implicated as a cause of undifferentiated fever in humans in Southeast Asia. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and diversity of canine vector-borne pathogens in 101 semi-domesticated dogs from rural Cambodia using molecular diagnostic techniques.ResultsThe most common canine vector-borne pathogens found infecting dogs in this study were Babesia vogeli (32.7 %) followed by Ehrlichia canis (21.8 %), Dirofilaria immitis (15.8 %), Hepatozoon canis (10.9 %), Mycoplasma haemocanis (9.9 %) and “Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum” (2.9 %). A high level of co-infection with CVBD agents (23.8 %) was present, most commonly B. vogeli and E. canis. Naturally occurring R. felis infection was also detected in 10.9 % of dogs in support of their role as a natural mammalian reservoir for flea-borne spotted fever in humans.ConclusionsThis study reports for the first time, the prevalence and diversity of CVBD pathogens in dogs in Cambodia. In total, five species of CVBD pathogens were found infecting semi-domesticated dogs and many were co-infected with two or more pathogens. This study supports the role of dogs as natural mammalian reservoirs for R. felis, the agent of flea-borne spotted fever in humans.

Highlights

In Southeast Asia, the canine vector-borne pathogens Babesia spp., Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, Hepatozoon canis, haemotropic mycoplasmas and Dirofilaria immitis cause significant morbidity and mortality in dogs
* Correspondence: rtraub@unimelb.edu.au 2Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia Full list of author information is available at the end of the article In Southeast Asia, canine babesiosis caused by the piroplasms Babesia vogeli and Babesia gibsoni are vectored by Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Haemaphysalis longicornis, respectively
Our results indicate that canine vector-borne diseases (CVBD) pathogens B. vogeli, E. canis, D. immitis, H. canis, M. haemocanis and “Candidatus M. haematoparvum” are highly endemic in this area of Cambodia

Summary

Introduction

In Southeast Asia, the canine vector-borne pathogens Babesia spp., Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, Hepatozoon canis, haemotropic mycoplasmas and Dirofilaria immitis cause significant morbidity and mortality in dogs. In Southeast Asia, canine vector-borne diseases (CVBD) are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in dogs. In Southeast Asia, canine babesiosis caused by the piroplasms Babesia vogeli and Babesia gibsoni are vectored by Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Haemaphysalis longicornis, respectively The latter may be transmitted by blood exchange in fighting dogs [2] and vertically [3]. Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis or tropical canine pancytopenia caused by Ehrlichia canis and vectored by R. sanguineus is widely distributed throughout Southeast Asia [4,5,6] and an important cause of mortality in dogs. Progressive and potentially lethal disease whose primary lesions occur in the pulmonary arteries and lung parenchyma, leading to congestive heart failure [13]

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