Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Tick-borne infections found in South African domestic dogs by PCR
By Matjila, Paul Tshepo et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology·2008·Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Molecular detection of tick-borne protozoal and ehrlichial infections in domestic dogs in South Africa.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that many dogs in South Africa are infected with tick-borne diseases. Out of 1,138 blood samples tested, 560 dogs had one or more infections, with the most common being Babesia rossi, which was found in 75% of the positive samples. Other infections included Theileria, Babesia vogeli, and Ehrlichia canis. This highlights the importance of regular tick prevention and monitoring for symptoms like fever, lethargy, or unusual bleeding in dogs. If you suspect your dog may have a tick-borne illness, consult your veterinarian for testing and treatment options.
People also search for: dog tick disease symptoms · Babesia rossi treatment · how to prevent ticks on dogs
Abstract
A total of 1,138 blood specimens were collected over a 6-year period (2000-2006) from domestic dogs in South Africa. Specimens from domestic dogs were obtained from the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital (OVAH) in Pretoria, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Johannesburg, Durban, East London and Bloemfontein) and private practices from four provinces (Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape). All specimens were screened for Babesia, Theileria, Hepatozoon and Ehrlichia/Anaplasma species using PCR and Reverse Line Blot (RLB) assays. On RLB, 560/1,137 domestic dog-specimens were positive for one or more parasites. Of the positive domestic dog-specimens, 420 (75%) were infected with Babesia rossi; 82 (15%) dogs were infected with Theileria sp. (dog); 18 (3%) dogs were infected with Babesia vogeli; 14 (3%) specimens were infected with Ehrlichia canis. Mixed infections were also found: B. rossi and E. canis were detected in 12 (2%) specimens; B. vogeli and E. canis occurred in 7 (1%) specimens; Theileria sp. (dog) and E. canis in 3 (0.5%) specimens; B. rossi and B. vogeli in one specimen. B. rossi, B. vogeli and E. canis occurred simultaneously in one dog. There was also one incidental finding of a dog positive for Trypanosoma congolense. The results indicate that a wide range of tick-borne pathogens are circulating in the canine populations in South Africa.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18502588/