Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Parasitic vector-borne diseases in hunting, stray, and sheep dogs
By Gizzarelli, Manuela et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2019·Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Simultaneous Detection of Parasitic Vector Borne Diseases: A Robust Cross-Sectional Survey in Hunting, Stray and Sheep Dogs in a Mediterranean Area.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A survey of 318 hunting dogs, 180 stray dogs, and 218 sheep dogs in southern Italy found that about 12.3% of these dogs had infections from parasites that can be spread by ticks and mosquitoes. The study specifically looked for diseases like leishmaniosis, babesiosis, and filarial infections. Some dogs showed no symptoms despite being infected, which highlights the need for regular testing and preventive care. The findings suggest that hunting dogs were more likely to have filarial infections. This research emphasizes the importance of controlling these diseases to protect both pets and people.
People also search for: dog tick disease symptoms · hunting dog parasite prevention · stray dog health issues
Abstract
Canine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs) are a spectrum of diseases caused by different pathogens transmitted by blood-feeding arthropoda. The aim of this study was to investigate leishmaniosis, babesiosis, and filarial infections in dogs with three different lifestyles (hunting, stray, and sheep dogs) in Molise, the smallest region of southern Italy, where data available about these parasitic infections are very scant. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 318 hunting, 180 stray, and 218 sheep dogs. Immunofluorescence antibody test, blood smear, molecular techniques and Knott's test were performed to detectspp. and filarial nematodes. Association between positivity to CVBDs, age, sex, and living conditions was evaluated. An overall prevalence of 12.3% of CVBDs caused by(10.2%),(0.3%) and filarial nematodes (2.1%) was detected. Three dogs showed co-infections ofand(0.1%) or(0.3%). A significantly association was found only for filarial infection in hunting dogs. These parasites were reported also in dogs without clinical signs. It is very important to plan effective control programs for CVBDs to guarantee not only the health and welfare of pets, but also the public safety, because some of mentioned parasites are of zoonotic importance.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31555672/