Vector-Borne Pathogens in Ticks and Fleas of Client-Owned Dogs in Metro Manila, Philippines

Anna Regina Angela Marquez,Jan Šlapeta,Kieran Eamens,Mark Westman

doi:10.3390/parasitologia1040026

Anna Regina Angela Marquez, Jan Šlapeta + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia1040026

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Abstract

Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. and Ctenocephalides felis are considered the most prevalent ectoparasites of dogs in the Philippines. Vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) in these ectoparasites pose health risks to humans and animals. This study aimed to confirm the morphological and molecular identity of tick and flea species parasitising dogs in Metro Manila (Philippines) and molecularly investigate the possible presence of Bartonella spp., Rickettsia spp., Ehrlichia canis, and Anaplasma platys DNA. Ticks (n = 58) and fleas (n = 52) on dogs from three veterinary clinics in Metro Manila were collected and identified morphologically and molecularly via amplification and sequencing of cytochrome c oxidase I (cox1). Aliquots of ectoparasite DNA underwent real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) screening for VBPs. All ticks were R. linnaei (formerly R. sanguineus s.l. “tropical lineage”), while all fleas were C. felis from clade 6 of the tropical II cluster/“Cairns” clade known from Australia. DNA of B. clarridgeiae was detected in 10% of fleas. DNA of R. felis was detected in 10% of fleas and in 3.8% of ticks. DNA of E. canis and A. platys was not detected. This study confirmed the presence of ticks and fleas as frequent ectoparasites on dogs and VBP presence emphasises the importance of preventative actions for animal health and welfare.

Highlights

This study reports potential co-infection of R. felis and B. clarridgeiae in one flea, which has only been previously reported in Taiwan and France [33]
Ticks were removed from the dogs via tweezers and the fleas were removed using a flea comb according to veterinary practice routine procedure
This study confirms that the tropical brown dog tick (R. linnaei) and the cat flea (C. felis) are the most common tick and flea species parasitising dogs in the Manila Metro area in the Philippines

Summary

Introduction

Ticks and fleas are significant ectoparasites in companion animals as they carry vectorborne pathogens (VBPs) that pose a health risk to dogs and humans within the dogs’. Households [1,2]. Both ticks and fleas thrive in the Philippines because of the warm and humid climate. These environmental and species-specific drivers facilitate broad dog tick and flea distribution, further enabled by an increasing population of urban dogs [3,4]. As of 2020, there are approximately 10.8 million dogs in the Philippines, many of which are unowned and free-roaming street dogs [5]

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