A Molecular Survey of Rickettsias in Shelter Dogs and Distribution of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Acari: Ixodidae) sensu lato in Southeast Turkey. Issue 2 (23rd November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ozubek, Sezayi; Ipek, Duygu Neval Sayın; Aktas, Munir
• Is Part Of: Journal of medical entomology. Volume 55:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 459
• Page End: 463
• Publication Date: 2017-11-23
• Subjects: Anaplasma platys -- Ehrlichia canis -- Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato -- dog -- Reverse line blot; Insects as carriers of disease -- Periodicals; 616.968
• DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjx213
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-2585

Abstract

Abstract: Canine tick-borne pathogens are the source of emerging diseases and have important zoonotic relevance. Dogs play a major role in the transmission of several zoonotic tick-borne pathogens, as reservoirs and/or sentinels. To simultaneously detect Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species, a reverse line blot assay was conducted on 219 blood samples collected from autochthonous asymptomatic shelter dogs. One hundred and three (47.0%, CI 40.3–53.9) dogs were positive for one or both rickettsial pathogens. Seventy-one (32.4%, CI 26.3–39.0) dogs were infected with Anaplasma platys and 23 (10.5%, CI 6.8–15.3) with Ehrlichia canis . Concurrent infection with A. platys and E. canis was detected in nine (4.1%, CI 1.9–7.6) dogs. Partial sequences of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene shared 100% identity with the corresponding published sequences for A. platys and E. canis . Infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum was not detected in the examined dogs. In total, 1018 (range 1–70, mean intensity 13.1, mean abundance 4.6) Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille) (Acari: Ixodidae) sensu lato ticks (45.7% nymphs, 54.3% adults) were collected from the dogs. There was no significant association between Anaplasma / Ehrlichia infection and dog sex or age, but a significant correlation was found between rickettsia infection and presence of R. sanguineus . Improved tick control strategies to reduce the risk of these pathogens spreading among dogs and humans are needed in the region.