Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Vector-borne infections common in dogs where leishmaniosis spreads
By Ramos, Rafael Antonio Nascimento et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports·2022·Federal University of the Agreste of Pernambuco, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Vector-borne pathogens in dogs from areas where leishmaniosis is endemic.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that dogs infected with Leishmania (a parasite that can cause serious health issues) were more likely to also have other infections from parasites like Ehrlichia canis and Dirofilaria immitis. In a group of 58 Leishmania-positive dogs, nearly 90% tested positive for at least one other infection, compared to 50% in a similar group of healthy dogs. The most common co-infection was with Ehrlichia canis, which can cause symptoms like fever and lethargy. This highlights the importance of testing dogs with Leishmania for other infections, as it can influence their treatment and care.
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Abstract
Many vector-borne pathogens (VBPs), including Ehrlichia canis and Dirofilaria immitis, may infect simultaneously dogs in areas where Leishmania infantum is endemic, especially in the tropics, where highly abundant arthropod vectors thrive. The aim of this study was to compare the frequency of simultaneous VBPs infection in Leishmania-positive and Leishmania-negative dogs. Animals enrolled in this study were divided in two groups (G1 and G2), G1 being comprised of L. infantum-infected dogs (n = 58) and the G2 of L. infantum-negative dogs (n = 58). Blood samples were screened using a qualitative ELISA test (SNAP® 4Dx® Plus, IDEXX Laboratory, Westbrook, Maine, USA) for detection of antibodies against Anaplasma spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Ehrlichia spp. and antigens of Dirofilaria immitis. Overall, 89.7% (52/58) of dogs from G1 were positive for at least one VBP, whereas 50.0% (29/58) of dogs from G2 dogs were positive as well. The highest positivity was to E. canis (67.2%; 78/116), followed by D. immitis (12.9%; 15/116), and A. platys (6.0%; 7/116). None of the animals scored positive for B. burgdorferi s.l.. There was a statistically significant difference for the simultaneous positivity to E. canis plus D. immitis between groups. Furthermore, 43.1% (25/58) of dogs from G1 were infested by ectoparasites (ticks, fleas, or both), compared to 20.6% (12/58) of dogs from G2. In conclusion, Leishmania-infected dogs were more co-infected with other VBPs than Leishmania-negative animals. Therefore, it is pivotal to increase the awareness of veterinarian and dog owners about the importance of testing Leishmania-infected dogs for other VBPs, as this may directly affect treatment decisions and management.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35725105/