Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Hepatozoon canis infection rates in dogs on Turkey's Aegean coast
By Karagenc, Tulin Ilhan et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology·2006·Department of Parasitology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A parasitological, molecular and serological survey of Hepatozoon canis infection in dogs around the Aegean coast of Turkey.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A survey of 349 dogs along the Aegean coast of Turkey found that about 10.6% had an infection caused by a parasite called Hepatozoon canis, which is spread by ticks. Blood tests showed that 36.8% of the dogs had been exposed to this parasite. The study used various methods, including blood smears and advanced genetic testing, to confirm the presence of the parasite. This is the first study of its kind in Turkey, highlighting the need for awareness and prevention of tick-borne diseases in dogs.
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Abstract
Canine hepatozoonosis is caused by the tick-borne protozoon Hepatozoon spp. The prevalence of the infection in the Aegean coast of Turkey was investigated by examination of blood smear parasitology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using blood samples from 349 dogs collected from Central Aydin, Kusadasi, Selcuk, Central Manisa, Bodrum and Marmaris within the Aegean coast of Turkey. The indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) for the detection of Hepatozoon canis antibodies was also used to detect the exposure rate to H. canis. PCR amplifying a 666bp fragment of 18S rRNA gene of Hepatozoon spp. was used in the epidemiological survey. The prevalence of Hepatozoon spp. infection was 10.6% by blood smear parasitology and 25.8% by PCR. IFAT revealed that 36.8% of serum samples were positive for antibodies reactive with Hepatozoon spp. The PCR products of 18S rRNA gene of Hepatozoon spp. isolated from six infected dogs, one isolate originating from each of the six different locations, were sequenced. The results of sequence analysis indicate that they are closely related to Indian and Japanese isolates of H. canis. This is the first epidemiological study on the prevalence of H. canis infection in the dog, in Turkey.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16229952/