Zoonotic Vectorborne Pathogens and Ectoparasites of Dogs and Cats in Eastern and Southeast Asia.

Vito Colella,Yi-Lun Tsai,Giada Annoscia,Jiangwei Wang,Fang Fang,Virginia Venturina,Malaika Watanabe,Na Lu,Frédéric Beugnet,Domenico Otranto,Junyan Dong,Xinghui Chen,Piyanan Taweethavonsawat,Saruda Tiwananthagorn,Wisnu Nurcahyo,Lénaïg Halos,Xin Liu,Yin Zhijuan,Khanh Linh Bui ,Upik Kesumawati Hadi ,Do Yew Tan ,Van Long Nguyen ,Kenneth Boon Yew Tong ,Puteri Azaziah Megat Abd Rani ,Thong Quang Le

doi:10.3201/eid2606.191832

Abstract

To provide data that can be used to inform treatment and prevention strategies for zoonotic pathogens in animal and human populations, we assessed the occurrence of zoonotic pathogens and their vectors on 2,381 client-owned dogs and cats living in metropolitan areas of 8 countries in eastern and Southeast Asia during 2017–2018. Overall exposure to ectoparasites was 42.4% in dogs and 31.3% in cats. Our data cover a wide geographic distribution of several pathogens, including Leishmania infantum and zoonotic species of filariae, and of animals infested with arthropods known to be vectors of zoonotic pathogens. Because dogs and cats share a common environment with humans, they are likely to be key reservoirs of pathogens that infect persons in the same environment. These results will help epidemiologists and policy makers provide tailored recommendations for future surveillance and prevention strategies.

Highlights

To provide data that can be used to inform treatment and prevention strategies for zoonotic pathogens in animal and human populations, we assessed the occurrence of zoonotic pathogens and their vectors on 2,381 client-owned dogs and cats living in metropolitan areas of 8 countries in eastern and Southeast Asia during 2017–2018
Previous investigations have explored the occurrence of zoonotic diseases in animals living in remote areas [4,5,6,7], our year-long multicenter study explored the occurrence of vectorborne pathogens and ectoparasites in pet dogs and cats from metropolitan areas in eastern and Southeast Asia
The detection of zoonotic pathogens in client-owned dogs and cats living in metropolitan areas indicates that these animals serve as hosts for several parasitic agents in Asia

Summary

Introduction

To provide data that can be used to inform treatment and prevention strategies for zoonotic pathogens in animal and human populations, we assessed the occurrence of zoonotic pathogens and their vectors on 2,381 client-owned dogs and cats living in metropolitan areas of 8 countries in eastern and Southeast Asia during 2017–2018. In China, the population of pet dogs is estimated to grow by 5 million per year Along with this increase in companion animal ownership, the risk of acquiring parasitic zoonoses from companion dogs and cats represents an ongoing, yet neglected, threat [10,11]. Previous investigations have explored the occurrence of zoonotic diseases in animals living in remote areas [4,5,6,7], our year-long multicenter study explored the occurrence of vectorborne pathogens and ectoparasites in pet dogs and cats from metropolitan areas in eastern and Southeast Asia

Methods

Results

Conclusion