Detection of canine vector-borne diseases in eastern Poland by ELISA and PCR.

Beata Dzięgiel,Łukasz Adaszek,Paweł Łyp,Stanisław Winiarczyk,Mateusz Winiarczyk,Alfonso Carbonero,Piotr Dębiak

doi:10.1007/s00436-015-4832-1

Beata Dzięgiel, Łukasz Adaszek + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-015-4832-1

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Abstract

The aim of the study was to establish the prevalence of Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi in dogs in eastern Poland and to determine the factors associated with exposure (seroposity) or infection (PCR). Anti-A. phagocytophilum, anti-B. burgdorferi and anti-E. canis antibodies were determined in 400 dogs, using the SNAP 4Dx ® test (IDEXX Laboratories). In addition, PCRs were performed for the detection of E. canis, A. phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi DNA. In reference to the risk factor analysis, a regression logistic model was determined for each aetiological agent. The overall seroprevalence was highest for B. burgdorferi (11.0 %), followed by A. phagocytophilum (8.0 %) and E. canis (1.5 %). Eleven healthy dogs were found to be infected with A. phagocytophilum, as determined by PCR, while the remainder were seronegative. For B. burgdorferi, the DNA of the spirochetes was detected in the blood of 20 dogs, while the presence of anti-B. burgdorferi IgG was detected in the sera of ten of these. For E. canis, none of the dogs tested positive by PCR. Tick control was included as a protective factor for A. phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi, while the origin (rural) was included as a risk factor for B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum infection. In addition, breed (pure) was a risk factor for B. burgdorferi infection, and sex (female) was a risk factor for E. canis.

Highlights

The term canine vector-borne diseases (CVBD) includes a wide variety of diseases of infectious or parasitic aetiology whose agents are transmitted by ectoparasites such as ticks, fleas and mosquitoes (Otranto et al 2009a)
While the highest prevalence of anti-A. phagocytophilum antibodies was observed in the serum of dogs from the Lubelskie Voivodeship (17.0 %), the highest prevalence of anti-B. burgdorferi and anti-E. canis antibodies was observed in the serum of dogs from the Podlaskie and Mazowieckie Voivodeships (18.0 and 4.0 % of the studied dogs, respectively) (Table 1)
The results of our own studies indicated that eastern Poland is at risk of CVBD

Summary

Introduction

The term canine vector-borne diseases (CVBD) includes a wide variety of diseases of infectious or parasitic aetiology whose agents are transmitted by ectoparasites such as ticks, fleas and mosquitoes (Otranto et al 2009a). Control of these infectious agents is important because some are responsible for serious diseases in humans (e.g. Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi). CVBD may show no specific clinical signs or clinicalpathological abnormalities and may even present a varied clinical picture. This makes the diagnosis of a CVBD extremely complex. Animals with subclinical infections pose as increased risk of infection (Billeter et al 2008; Perez et al 2011)

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