Increased prevalence of tick-borne disease in humans and animals is an
important public health issue. Dogs can be clinically ill, reservoirs of
tick-borne pathogens, or sentinel populations for research. Certainly,
small-scale research has been conducted in dogs and this review will focus
on the recent studies of emergent and re-emergent tick-borne pathogens in
dogs in Serbia. Babesiosis stands out as the most common and important
tick-borne disease in dogs. In addition to this pathogen, the presence of
Hepatozoon canis and ?Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum? in the blood of
dogs was proved using molecular methods. Seroreactivity in dogs has been
proven for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex, Ehrlichia canis,
Ehrlichia ewingii, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma platys, Rickettsia
conorii, and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). The presence of B.
burgdorferi s.l. complex, A. phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp. from the group
of spotted fevers, and TBEV in ticks indicates the geographical distribution
and potential for infecting humans, dogs, and other animals in Serbia.
Further systematic, comprehensive, well designed, bacteriological,
virological, parasitological, epidemiological, clinical (infectological),
and acarological research is needed in Serbia.