Canine vector-borne disease: mapping and the accuracy of forecasting using big data from the veterinary community

Abstract

Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of vector-borne disease (VBD) in pets is one cornerstone of companion animal practices. Veterinarians are facing new challenges associated with the emergence, reemergence, and rising incidence of VBD, including heartworm disease, Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis. Increases in the observed prevalence of these diseases have been attributed to a multitude of factors, including diagnostic tests with improved sensitivity, expanded annual testing practices, climatologic and ecological changes enhancing vector survival and expansion, emergence or recognition of novel pathogens, and increased movement of pets as travel companions. Veterinarians have the additional responsibility of providing information about zoonotic pathogen transmission from pets, especially to vulnerable human populations: the immunocompromised, children, and the elderly. Hindering efforts to protect pets and people is the dynamic and ever-changing nature of VBD prevalence and distribution. To address this deficit in understanding, the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) began efforts to annually forecast VBD prevalence in 2011. These forecasts provide veterinarians and pet owners with expected disease prevalence in advance of potential changes. This review summarizes the fidelity of VBD forecasts and illustrates the practical use of CAPC pathogen prevalence maps and forecast data in the practice of veterinary medicine and client education.

Exposure to Major Vector-Borne Diseases in Dogs Subjected to Different Preventative Regimens in Endemic Areas of Italy

“…Canine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs) are caused by several pathogens (parasites, bacteria and viruses) transmitted by ectoparasites, namely ticks, fleas, mosquitoes and sand flies [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. These pathogens represent a threat for human and animal health throughout continents [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ].…”

Rapid Discovery and Detection of Haemaphysalis longicornis through the Use of Passive Surveillance and Collaboration: Building a State Tick-Surveillance Network

“…Previous research identified dogs as excellent sentinels of human cases of tick-borne disease and as a predictor for tick distributions and range expansion [42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50]. Initial county detections of H. longicornis were largely traceable to animal shelters grooming tick-infested dogs (Table 2); thus, we propose dogs presenting to animal shelters can also help with future invasive-tick-species surveillance.…”

Demographic and Pathogens of Domestic, Free-Roaming Pets and the Implications for Wild Carnivores and Human Health in the San Luis Region of Costa Rica

“…These spillover events have occurred even in areas far from urban centers with large populations of domestic animals, such as Bolivia’s Kaa-Iya del Gran Chaco and Noel Kempff Mercado National Parks [ 18 , 20 ]. Domestic dogs and cats can also serve as sentinels to detect the circulation of important pathogens, including some that are of zoonotic concern [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]. Currently, there is little understanding of the pathogens that pose a risk for wild carnivores in Central America, or whether domestic animals play a role in these risks.…”