Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Tick-borne infections found in dogs from Grenada in 2006 study
By Yabsley, Michael J et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology·2008·D.B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Prevalence of Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, Babesia canis vogeli, Hepatozoon canis, Bartonella vinsonii berkhoffii, and Rickettsia spp. in dogs from Grenada.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs in Grenada showed signs of tick-borne infections, with many testing positive for various pathogens. In two surveys conducted in 2004 and 2006, around 42% of the dogs were found to have Ehrlichia canis, a bacteria that can cause serious health issues. Other pathogens like Anaplasma platys and Babesia canis vogeli were also identified in some dogs. The study suggests that if your dog is experiencing symptoms like low energy, fever, or unusual blood counts, tick-borne diseases should be considered as a possible cause. Treatment options may include antibiotics and supportive care, depending on the specific infection.
People also search for: dog tick-borne disease symptoms · Ehrlichia canis treatment · signs of fever in dogs
Abstract
To identify the tick-borne pathogens in dogs from Grenada, we conducted a serologic survey for Ehrlichia canis in 2004 (104 dogs) and a comprehensive serologic and molecular survey for a variety of tick-borne pathogens in 2006 (73 dogs). In 2004 and 2006, 44 and 32 dogs (42.3% and 43.8%) were seropositive for E. canis, respectively. In 2006, several tick-borne pathogens were identified by serology and PCR. DNA of E. canis, Anaplasma platys, Babesia canis vogeli, Hepatozoon canis, and Bartonella sp. were identified in 18 (24.7%), 14 (19.2%), 5 (7%), 5 (7%), and 1 (1.4%) dogs, respectively. Six (8.2%) dogs were seropositive for Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii. All dogs were seronegative and PCR-negative for Rickettsia spp. Coinfection with two or three pathogens was observed in eight dogs. Partial 16S rRNA E. canis and A. platys sequences were identical to sequences in GenBank. Partial 18S rRNA gene sequences from the Grenadian H. canis were identical to each other and had one possible mismatch (ambiguous base) from H. canis detected from Spain and Brazil. Grenadian B. c. vogeli sequences were identical to B. c. vogeli from Brazil and Japan. All of the detected pathogens are transmitted, or suspected to be transmitted, by Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Results of this study indicate that dogs from Grenada are infected with multiple tick-borne pathogens; therefore, tick-borne diseases should be included as differentials for dogs exhibiting thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, fever, or lethargy. One pathogen, E. canis, is also of potential public health significance.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18160223/