Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Healthy dogs carrying Babesia microti-like infection in Spain
By Checa, Rocío et al.·Published in Parasites & vectors·2019·Department of Animal Health, Spain·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: The role of healthy dog carriers of Babesia microti-like piroplasms.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study in northwestern Spain found that 17% of healthy dogs tested positive for Babesia microti-like piroplasm (Bml), a parasite that can cause illness. The highest rates were seen in hunting dogs, with 25% infected, while stray dogs had a lower infection rate of 6.6% for another type of Babesia, Babesia canis. The researchers also noted that ticks were present on some of the dogs, which can spread these infections. This suggests that healthy dogs can carry and potentially spread Bml to other animals.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: While in Europe Babesia canis has been traditionally held responsible for canine piroplasmosis, Babesia microti-like piroplasm (Bml) infection is being ever more observed in dogs, with the first clinical cases reported in northwestern Spain. This study examines the epidemiological role of healthy dogs living in endemic areas of Bml infection in Spain. The data obtained were used to describe the clinical status and map the geographical distribution of Bml infection in healthy dogs in northwestern Spain. RESULTS: Blood samples and ticks were taken from 756 healthy dogs representatively across the whole Galicia region (northwestern Spain): stray (n = 211), hunting dogs (n = 333) and pets (n = 212). Blood samples were tested by microscopy parasite observation, nested PCR-RFLP and sequencing. Piroplasm infection prevalences in healthy dogs from northwestern Spain were 17.1% (129/756) by PCR and 3.4% (26/756) by microscopy observation. The species found by PCR were: 2.2% (17/756) for B. canis and 15.1% (114/756) for Bml. Co-infection with B. canis and Bml was noted in 2 dogs. The higher prevalences detected were Bml in hunting dogs (25.5%; 85/333) and B. canis in stray dogs (6.6%; 14/211). In fox-hunting dogs from any area and dogs from the A Coruña Province, significantly higher prevalences of Bml infection were detected (P < 0.001). Upon physical examination, tick infestation was observed: 130 ticks in 18 hunting and three pet dogs. These were subsequently identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus (s.l.) (49.2%), Ixodes hexagonus (38.5%), Ixodes ricinus (6.9%) and Dermacentor reticulatus (5.4%). Among the more prevalent ticks infesting healthy carrier dogs were I. hexagonus, followed by D. reticulatus and I. ricinus. CONCLUSIONS: Babesia canis and Bml were the only piroplasm species found infecting healthy dogs in Galicia, the prevalence of Bml being higher than of B. canis. Factors correlated with a higher Bml infection risk were being a hunting dog and living in the A Coruña Province. Healthy dogs travelling to other countries could act as carriers and probably contribute to the spread of Bml infection in dogs and wild carnivores throughout Europe.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30909936/