Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Vector-borne diseases found in dogs and cats in Qatar
By Alho, Ana Margarida et al.·Published in Parasites & vectors·2017·CIISA·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Molecular detection of vector-borne pathogens in dogs and cats from Qatar.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 64 dogs and 34 cats in Qatar were tested for various infections spread by ticks and other vectors. About 19% of the dogs and 21% of the cats had at least one infection, with some dogs showing signs of Mycoplasma and Babesia infections, which can cause anemia and other health issues. The study highlights the presence of these infections in pets living in Qatar and suggests that pet owners should be aware of the risks and consider preventive measures. Regular check-ups and preventive treatments can help protect pets from these diseases.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) have been increasingly reported in dogs and cats worldwide. However, no data are currently available regarding canine and feline VBDs in Qatar and limited information is available from other Persian Gulf countries. METHODS: Blood samples from 98 client-owned animals (i.e. 64 dogs and 34 cats) living in Doha (Qatar) were collected and the presence of genomic DNA of Anaplasma spp., Babesia spp., Dirofilaria spp., Ehrlichia spp., Hepatozoon spp., Mycoplasma spp. and Rickettsia spp. was assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), real time-PCR (rt-PCR) and sequence analysis. RESULTS: Of the 64 dogs, 12 (18.8%) were infected with at least one pathogen (i.e. 7.8% with Mycoplasma spp., 4.7% with Babesia vogeli, 3.1% with Ehrlichia canis, and 1.6% with Anaplasma platys, Babesia gibsoni and Hepatozoon canis, each). One of the 12 dogs was co-infected with B. vogeli and E. canis. Of the 34 cats, seven (20.6%) animals were infected with at least one pathogen (i.e. 5.9% were positive for Mycoplasma spp., and 2.9% for Babesia felis, B. vogeli, E. canis, "Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum" and Mycoplasma haemofelis, each). No dogs or cats were positive for Dirofilaria spp. or Rickettsia spp. CONCLUSIONS: Although the sample sizes of dogs and cats herein analysed was moderately small, data from this study report the occurrence of A. platys, B. vogeli, B. gibsoni, E. canis, H. canis and Mycoplasma spp. in domestic dogs and of B. felis, B. vogeli, "Candidatus M. haemominutum", E. canis and M. haemofelis in domestic cats from Qatar. Further investigations along with prophylactic measures are strongly recommended in order to reduce the risk of dogs and cats acquiring VBDs in Qatar.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28633666/