Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Hepatozoon canis infection risk in hunting dogs in Southern Italy
By Pacifico, L et al.·Published in Parasitology research·2020·Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Hepatozoon canis in hunting dogs from Southern Italy: distribution and risk factors.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that 14% of hunting dogs in Southern Italy tested positive for a parasite called Hepatozoon canis, which is spread through infected ticks. The researchers looked at 1,433 healthy dogs and identified factors that increased the risk of infection, such as breed, coat length, and where the dog lived. Dogs that were infected with Hepatozoon canis were also more likely to have another tick-borne infection called Ehrlichia canis. This suggests that hunting dogs in this region are often exposed to these parasites, likely due to their close contact with wildlife.
People also search for: dog tick infection symptoms · Hepatozoon canis in dogs · Ehrlichia canis treatment for dogs
Abstract
Hepatozoon canis is a hemoprotozoan organism that infects domestic and wild carnivores throughout much of Europe. The parasite is mainly transmitted through the ingestion of infected ticks containing mature oocysts. The aims of the present survey were to determine the prevalence of H. canis in hunting dogs living in Southern Italy and to assess potential infection risk factors. DNA extracted from whole blood samples, collected from 1433 apparently healthy dogs living in the Napoli, Avellino, and Salerno provinces of Campania region (Southern Italy), was tested by a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay to amplify H. canis. Furthermore, the investigated dog population was also screened by qPCR for the presence of Ehrlichia canis, a major tick-borne pathogen in Southern Italy, in order to assess possible co-infections. Two hundred dogs were H. canis PCR-positive, resulting in an overall prevalence of 14.0% (CI 12.2-15.9). Breed category (P < 0.0001), hair coat length (P = 0.015), and province of residence (P < 0.0001) represented significant risk factors for H. canis infection. The presence of H. canis DNA was also significantly associated with E. canis PCR positivity (P < 0.0001). Hunting dogs in Campania region (Southern Italy) are frequently exposed to H. canis, and the infection is potentially associated with close contact with wildlife. Further studies are needed to assess the pathogenic potential of H. canis, as well as the epidemiological relationships between hunting dogs and wild animal populations sharing the same habitats in Southern Italy.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32725320/