Journal article
Molecular detection of Anaplasma platys, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Wolbachia sp. but not Ehrlichia canis in Croatian dogs
Parasitology Research, Vol.116(11), pp.3019-3026
2017
Abstract
The bacteria Anaplasma platys, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Ehrlichia canis are tick-borne agents that cause canine vector-borne disease. The prevalence of these pathogens in South Eastern Europe is unknown with the exception of an isolated case of A. platys detected in a dog imported into Germany from Croatia. To gain a better insight into their presence and prevalence, PCR-based screening for these bacterial pathogens was performed on domesticated dogs from different regions of Croatia. Blood samples from 1080 apparently healthy dogs from coastal and continental parts of Croatia as well as tissue samples collected from 63 deceased dogs with a history of anaemia and thrombocytopenia were collected for molecular screening by an Anaplasmataceae-specific 16S rRNA conventional PCR. Positive samples were confirmed using a second Anaplasmataceae-specific PCR assay with the PCR product sequenced for the purpose of bacterial species identification. All sequenced isolates were georeferenced and a kernel intensity estimator was used to identify clusters of greater case intensity. 42/1080 (3.8%; CI 2.7-5.0) of the healthy dogs were PCR positive for bacteria in the Anaplasmataceae. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene amplified from these positive samples revealed the presence of A. platys in 2.5% (CI 1.6-3.4%, 27 dogs), A. phagocytophilum in 0.3% (CI 0-0.6%, 3 dogs) and a Wolbachia endosymbiont in 1.1% (CI 0.4-1.6%, 12 dogs) of dogs screened in this study. Necropsied dogs were free from infection. Notably, no evidence of E. canis infection was found in any animal. This survey represents a rare molecular study of Anaplasmataceae in dogs in South Eastern Europe, confirming the presence of A. platys and A. phagocytophilum but not E. canis. The absence of E. canis was surprising given it has been described in all other Mediterranean countries surveyed and raises questions over the regional vector capacity of the Rhipicephalus sanguineus tick.
Details
- Title
- Molecular detection of Anaplasma platys, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Wolbachia sp. but not Ehrlichia canis in Croatian dogs
- Authors
- Doroteja Huber (Author) - University of Zagreb, CroatiaIrena Reil (Author) - Croatian Veterinary Institute, CroatiaSanja Duvnjak (Author) - Croatian Veterinary Institute, CroatiaDaria Jurkovic (Author) - Croatian Veterinary Institute, CroatiaMiroslav Pilat (Author) - Veterinary Clinics "Daruvar", CroatiaAna Beck (Author) - University of Zagreb, CroatiaZeljko Mihaljevic (Author) - Croatian Veterinary Institute, CroatiaLea Vojta (Author) - Institute Ruder Boskovic, CroatiaAdam Polkinghorne (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringRelja Beck (Author) - Croatian Veterinary Institute, Croatia
- Publication details
- Parasitology Research, Vol.116(11), pp.3019-3026
- Publisher
- Springer
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00436-017-5611-y
- ISSN
- 0932-0113
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99451017102621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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