Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Hidden tick-borne infections in dogs in Northern Italy revealed
By Dini, Filippo Maria et al.·Published in Research in veterinary science·2025·Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), Italy·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Tick-borne protozoa in dogs: Combined diagnostic approaches reveal unnoticed carriers of Hepatozoon canis and Theileria orientalis among owned dogs in Northen Italy.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs in Northern Italy was tested for tick-borne infections, revealing that some were carriers of Hepatozoon canis and Theileria orientalis, which had not been previously detected in dogs in the area. Eight dogs tested positive for Hepatozoon canis, often having other health issues, while two dogs were found to have Babesia canis. This study highlights the need for more thorough testing methods to identify these infections, especially since they can occur alongside other diseases. Understanding these infections better can help in managing and treating affected dogs.
People also search for: dog tick-borne disease symptoms · Hepatozoon canis treatment · Theileria orientalis in dogs · dog Babesia infection signs
Abstract
Apicomplexan haemoprotozoa, including piroplasms from the genera Babesia and Theileria, along with Hepatozoon spp., are tick-borne protozoans that affect domestic animals, wildlife, and humans. Employing a broader-spectrum 18S rDNA PCR assay for Apicomplexa haemoprotozoa, the present study investigated 155 owned dogs presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Bologna and previously tested by routine diagnostic assays for Anaplasmataceae and Babesia spp. infection. The presence of three different species of Apicomplexan hemoprotozoa was observed. Specifically, Babesia canis was confirmed in two dogs, while the presence Hepatozoon canis (eight dogs), and Theileria orientalis (one dog) was also newly detected. Hepatozoon canis positive dogs mainly showed clinical history of comorbidities. Phylogenetic analysis highlighted genetic diversity among H. canis strains detected in this study, and from H. canis sequences from canid. Hosts. This study emphasizes the importance of using comprehensive diagnostic techniques to detect a wide range of hemoprotozoan infections, particularly in cases of vector-borne diseases with potential co-infections. This is the first report in Italy of T. orientalis in a canine host. Further researches are required to elucidate the role of dogs in the epidemiology and transmission of Theileria spp. and to explore the pathogenicity of Hepatozoon canis strains in the region.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40532270/