Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis, Anaplasmosis and Hepatozoonosis in Dogs from St. Kitts, West Indies

Abstract

BackgroundAlthough tick-borne diseases are important causes of morbidity and mortality in dogs in tropical areas, there is little information on the agents causing these infections in the Caribbean.MethodologyWe used PCRs to test blood from a cross-section of dogs on St Kitts for Ehrlichia (E.) canis, Babesia (B.) spp., Anaplasma (A.) spp. and Hepatozoon (H.) spp. Antibodies against E. canis and A. phagocytophilum/platys were detected using commercial immunochromatography tests. Records of the dogs were examined retrospectively to obtain clinical and laboratory data.Principal findingsThere was serological and/or PCR evidence of infections of dogs with E. canis (27%; 46/170), Babesia spp. (24%; 90/372) including B. canis vogeli (12%; 43/372) and B. gibsoni (10%; 36/372), A. platys (11%; 17/157) and H. canis (6%; 15/266). We could not identify the Babesia sp. detected in nine dogs. There was evidence of multiple infections with dual infections with E. canis and B. canis vogeli (8%; 14/179) or B. gibsoni (7%; 11/170) being the most common. There was agreement between immunochromatography and PCR test results for E. canis for 87% of dogs. Only 13% of exposed dogs had signs of a tick-borne disease and 38% had laboratory abnormalities. All 10 dogs presenting for a recheck after treatment of E. canis with doxycycline were apparently healthy although all remained seropositive and six still had laboratory abnormalities despite an average of two treatments with the most recent being around 12 months previously. Infections with Babesia spp. were also mainly subclinical with only 6% (4/67) showing clinical signs and 13% (9/67) having laboratory abnormalities. Similarly, animals with evidence of infections with A. platys and H. canis were largely apparently healthy with only occasional laboratory abnormalities.ConclusionsDogs are commonly infected with tick-borne pathogens in the Caribbean with most having no clinical signs or laboratory abnormalities.

Study on coinfecting vector-borne pathogens in dogs and ticks in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

“…In the Caribbean region, Kelly et al (2013) were not molecularly detected in dogs in the present study, these agents have previously been detected in dogs in Brazil. For instance, A. phagocytophilum has been detected in dogs and ticks, namely in R. sanguineus and A. cajennense, in the state of Rio de Janeiro .…”

“…Dogs parasitized by multiple pathogen-infected ticks may have an unknown clinical outcome that depends on the host-parasite relationship. Studies on interactions between tick-borne agents and Leishmania parasites with regard to establishment and progression of the disease are much needed (SOUSA et al, 2013 (CARDOSO et al, 2010;KELLY et al, 2013), a differential diagnosis based on identification of the etiological agents is important, in order to assess the zoonotic potential and the best therapy for the pathogens involved.…”

Molecular detection of Ehrlichia canis in dogs from three districts in Punjab (Pakistan)

“…In a similar study conducted in four different regions of India by using PCR technique, it was reported that 21% of the enrolled dogs were having E. canis in their blood (Rani et al 2011). In a recent study conducted in St. Kitts (West Indies), the prevalence of E. canis in collected dog samples was found to be 27% using quantitative PCR (Kelly et al 2013). Rojas et al (2014) have also reported 34% prevalence of E. canis in dogs from Costa Rica (Rojas et al 2014).…”

Molecular detection of blood pathogens and their impacts on levels of packed cell volume in stray dogs from Thailand

“…Infections of these pathogens range in their effects from asymptomatic to severe illness. The compatibility of clinical signs includes fever, anorexia, lymphadenomegaly, pale mucous membranes, lethargy, scleral injection, anemia, weight loss, icterus and thrombocytopenia [7][8][9].…”