Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Vector-borne infections in Costa Rican dogs including Babesia vogeli
By Rojas, Alicia et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology·2014·Departamento de Parasitologí·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Vector-borne pathogens in dogs from Costa Rica: first molecular description of Babesia vogeli and Hepatozoon canis infections with a high prevalence of monocytic ehrlichiosis and the manifestations of co-infection.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs in Costa Rica showed signs of illness due to infections from various tick-borne pathogens, with 47% testing positive for at least one infection. Common symptoms included anemia, and many dogs were found to have co-infections, which led to more severe health issues. The study identified infections with Ehrlichia canis, Babesia vogeli, and Hepatozoon canis, marking the first time these infections have been reported in the region. To help protect dogs from these diseases, it's important for pet owners to be aware of tick prevention methods.
People also search for: dog anemia symptoms · tick-borne diseases in dogs · Babesia vogeli treatment · how to prevent ticks on dogs · Costa Rica dog health issues
Abstract
Infection with canine vector-borne pathogens was evaluated in dogs from four different regions of Costa Rica by PCR. Demographic data, clinical signs, packed cell volume values, and the presence of tick infestation were recorded for each dog. Forty seven percent (69/146) of the dogs were infected with at least one pathogen and 12% were co-infected with two pathogens. Ehrlichia canis was detected in 34%, Anaplasma platys in 10%, Babesia vogeli in 8%, and Hepatozoon canis in 7.5% of the blood samples. No infection was detected with Leishmania spp. in blood, skin scrapings or conjunctival swabs. Thirty percent of the dogs presented at least one clinical sign compatible with vector-borne disease, and of those, 66% were infected with a pathogen. Subclinical infections were determined in 58% of the infected dogs including 82% (9/11), 58% (29/50), 42% (5/12) and 36% (5/14) of the dogs with H. canis, E. canis, B. vogeli and A. platys infections, respectively. A distinct relationship was found between infection and anemia. The mean PCV values were 34.4% in dogs with no infection, 31.5% in those who had a single infection and 23% in those with co-infection. Co-infected dogs had significantly lower PCV values compared to non-infected and single-infected dogs (p<0.0001). Thirty five percent (51/146) of the dogs were infested with ticks, 82% of them were infested with Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato and 18% with Amblyomma ovale. Dogs infected with A. platys, B. vogeli, or E. canis were significantly associated with R. sanguineus s.l. infestation (p<0.029). This is the first description of infections with B. vogeli and H. canis in Costa Rica as well as in Central America. The results of this study indicate that multiple vector-borne pathogens responsible for severe diseases infect dogs in Costa Rica and therefore, increased owner and veterinarian awareness are needed. Moreover, prevention of tick infestation is recommended to decrease the threat of these diseases to the canine population.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24315693/