Published in Scientific Works. C Series. Veterinary Medicine, Vol. LVIII ISSUE 4
Written by Ionita Mariana, Violeta Enachescu, Ioan Liviu Mitrea
Canine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs) represent an important group of illnesses affecting dogs around the world. In addition to their veterinary importance, some CVBD-causing pathogens are of major zoonotic concern, with dogs potentially serving as reservoirs and sentinels for human infections. The present study aimed at assessing the seroprevalence of some selected arthropod-borne pathogens (Dirofilaria immitis, Ehrlichia canis, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum) in stray dogs from Bucharest’s areas, using point-of-care assays: SNAP® Heartworm test (n=16) and SNAP 4DX (n=75), IDEXX Laboratories, Westbrook, ME. The SNAP heartworm detects only D. immitis antigen, whereas the SNAP 4DX detects D. immitis antigen and antibodies against E. canis, A. phagocytophylum, and B. burgdorferi. All animals displayed no clinical signs at the physical examination, therefore they were assumed as clinical healthy. Overall, 30.77% (28/91) of the dogs were serologically-positive to one or more of the tested pathogens. The prevalence of positive test results was as follows: D. immitis, 18.68% (17/91), E. canis, 4.00% (3/75), A. phagocytophilum, 16.00% (12/75). Three dogs (4.00%) were co-exposed to D. immitis and A. phagocytophilum and one (1.33%) was co-exposed to E. canis and A. phagocytophilum. There was no evidence for Borrellia infection. This study provides on insight of exposure to certain pathogens infecting stray dogs in some areas of Bucharest, emphasizing high risks for vector-borne diseases.
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