Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Babesia infection more common in German Shepherds and Komondors
By Hornok, Sándor et al.·Published in Parasitology research·2006·Department of Parasitology and Zoology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Seroprevalence of canine babesiosis in Hungary suggesting breed predisposition.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study in Hungary found that about 5.7% of dogs tested positive for a tick-borne disease called babesiosis, which can cause serious health issues. The highest rates of infection were seen in German Shepherds and Komondors, suggesting these breeds might be more likely to carry the disease. The research indicated that dogs aged between 3 and 5 years had the highest levels of antibodies, meaning they had been exposed to the disease. This information highlights the importance of monitoring these breeds for babesiosis, especially in areas where ticks are common.
People also search for: dog babesiosis symptoms · German Shepherd tick disease · Komondor health issues · how to prevent ticks on dogs
Abstract
Six hundred fifty-one blood samples were collected from urban and rural dogs in various parts of Hungary to measure antibody levels to Babesia canis with indirect fluorescent antibody test. Thirty-seven (5.7%) of the sera showed positivity with titers between 1:80 and 1:10,240. Seroconverted dogs were found in 13 locations of the country. It is concluded that canine babesiosis is becoming more prevalent in Eastern Hungary. Seropositivity increased then declined with age, reaching a maximum in case of 3.1- to 5-year-old dogs. Prevalence of antibodies to B. canis was significantly higher among german shepherds and komondors. This suggests a genetic predisposition of german shepherd dogs to chronic babesiosis (carrier status) with long-term maintenance of their seropositivity. On the other hand, heavy-coated komondors are phenotypically more suitable for repeated exposure to ticks, potentially infected with B. canis. This is the first report on the seroprevalence of canine babesiosis in Hungary.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16715235/