Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Parasites on dogs and cats in urban Vientiane and their diseases
By Phommadeechack, Vanheuang et al.·Published in PLoS neglected tropical diseases·2025·Department of Medical Entomology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Identification and pathogen screening of ectoparasites from companion animals in urban Vientiane, Lao PDR.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study in Vientiane, Laos, found that many dogs and cats had ticks, fleas, and lice, which can carry harmful diseases. Over 3,700 ectoparasites were collected from pets, with a significant number testing positive for bacteria that can cause infections in both animals and humans. Specifically, 44% of flea samples and 22.5% of tick samples showed the presence of dangerous pathogens. This highlights the importance of regular parasite control for pets to protect their health and prevent the spread of diseases. Pet owners should be vigilant and consult their veterinarians about effective parasite prevention strategies.
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Abstract
Ticks and fleas are vectors of medically important infectious diseases globally, such as Rickettsiae. These pathogens are frequently reported in Southeast Asia, including Laos; however, there are very few comprehensive reports on their prevalence and vector diversity in urban areas. This study collected ectoparasites from companion animals to assess pathogen prevalence and exposure risk. In five veterinary clinics across Vientiane capital, ectoparasites were collected from dogs and cats and identified to the species level using both morphological and molecular methods. Ectoparasite DNA samples were screened for bacteria (17-kDa and 16S rRNA gene). Ticks were submitted to evaluate the potential of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for species identification. A total of 3,771 arthropod vectors (3,658 ticks, 105 fleas, 8 lice) were removed from dogs and cats. Ticks were morphologically identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.) tropical lineage (currently recognised as Rhipicephalus linnaei), whilst fleas were classified as either Ctenocephalides felis felis (57.1%) or C. f. orientis (42.9%) and lice were Heterodoxus spiniger. The MALDI-TOF spectra in this study revealed similar mass-to-charge (m/z) peak profiles to those reported in previous studies for Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Rickettsia spp. (Rickettsia asembonensis and Rickettsia felis) were detected in 44.4% of pooled flea samples collected from 12 dogs and 4 cats, as well as 3.5% of tick pools collected from 142 dogs and 50% of lice pools collected from 2 dogs. In addition, Anaplasmataceae (Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma platys) were detected in 22.5% of ticks collected from dogs. This study highlights the diversity of ectoparasite species collected from dogs and cats and provide preliminary insights into the use of MALDI-TOF MS for tick species identification. While promising, further research is needed to enhance the reliability and efficacy of this approach. The findings also reveal a high prevalence of pathogens in ectoparasites, emphasizing the need for increased awareness among pet owners, veterinarians, and addressing public health concerns.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41091792/