Epidemiological aspects on vector-borne infections in stray and pet dogs from Romania and Hungary with focus on Babesia spp.

Abstract

Canine arthropod-borne infections are of major interest in small animal practice and have been widely investigated in Central and Western Europe. However, only limited epidemiological data are available from South-Eastern European countries, although diseases including babesiosis or dirofilariosis are widely recognised as important canine infections in these countries. A steadily increasing number of dogs imported from South-Eastern Europe into Germany require particular attention by small animal practitioners. In this study, a total of 216 dogs [29 local Romanian pet dogs presented at Salvavet Veterinary Clinic in Bucharest, Romania, and 187 imported stray dogs from Romania (n = 109) and Hungary (n = 78) into Germany] were screened by molecular biological, serological and haematological methods for canine arthropod-borne infections. Eleven different parasitic and bacterial vector-borne pathogens-Babesia canis canis, Babesia canis vogeli, Babesia gibsoni, Babesia felis-like, Hepatozoon canis, Leishmania spp., Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilaria repens, Acanthocheilonema reconditum, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Mycoplasma haemocanis-were detected. Fifty-six percent of the dogs were positive by direct methods. B. canis canis was the most prevalent pathogen in dogs imported to Germany (42.8%) and dogs submitted for clinical consultation in Bucharest (44.8%). Our data strongly suggest the introduction of an adjusted screening panel in dogs from South-East Europe in view of increasing importation of dogs into Germany.

High Prevalence of Rickettsia typhi and Bartonella Species in Rats and Fleas, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo

“…Kisangani (0 30 N; 25 11 E) is the principal city of the Orientale province, mainly situated between the Congo River right bank and the Tshopo River. It covers 1910 km 2 and consists of six administrative districts (Makiso, Tshopo, Kisangani, Mangobo, Kabondo, and Lubunga) and an estimated 80% of the population lives below the poverty line. The economy of the city is primarily based on artisanal mining, "small trade businesses" and agriculture.…”

“…1 Endemic foci do usually refer to rural settings, but the focal distribution of pathogens may occur in urban areas offering a mosaic of habitats suitable to hosts, 2 vectors, 3 pathogens survival, 4 and exposed human population. 5 At different spatial and temporal scales, the anthropogenic modifications directly and indirectly play a role in the host and vector dynamics and act on the probability for (re)emergence of zoonotic diseases.…”

Hard ticks (Ixodidae) in Romania: surveillance, host associations, and possible risks for tick-borne diseases

“…Of 1931 I. ricinus ticks, collected within the territory of Belluno, Italy, 8.23% were positive for B. burgdorferi, 4.4% were positive for Ehrlichia, 1.6% were positive for Rickettsia, and 1.6% were positive for Babesia. The copresence of Borrelia and Ehrlichia (1.2%) and Babesia (0.5%), Borrelia, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia (0.1%) was also found (Piccolin et al 2006 (Hamel et al 2011). H. marginatum is one of the vectors involved in transmission of CrimeanCongo hemorrhagic fever (Goddard 2003).…”

Hyperaldosteronism and its association with hypotension and azotaemia in canine babesiosis

“…Species such as Babesia canis, B. vogeli, B. gibsoni, B. felis-like and B. microti-like have been detected in dogs in Europe (Cacci o et al 2002;Hamel et al 2012;Matijatko et al 2012). Among these species only B. canis has been detected in dogs in Poland (Welc-Falęciak et al 2009;Adaszek & Winiarczyk 2011).…”