ABSTRACT
Due to an unfortunate error during the processing of the article, the given name and family name of all authors were interchanged. The original article has been corrected.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The incidence of vector-borne zoonoses has been increasing in Europe as a result of global climate change, and rickettsioses are a significant etiologic entity among these infections. The objective of this study was to investigate the seroprevalences of Rickettsia conorii, Ehrlichia canis and Coxiella burnetii in dogs in Montenegro. METHODS: The seroepidemiological study covered 259 dogs, of which 155 were owned dogs suspected of infection with agents of rickettsial aetiology from the continental (Podgorica) or five coastal municipalities of Montenegro (Budva, Herceg Novi, Kotor, Ulcinj and Bar), and 104 dogs were from a public shelter in Podgorica. The presence of specific IgG antibodies against R. conorii was analysed using a commercial indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test, and the presence of antibodies against E. canis and C. burnetii was analysed using commercial indirect immunofluorescence tests (IFAT). RESULTS: Seroprevalences of 73.36, 19.3 and 1.16% were determined for R. conorii, E. canis and C. burnetii, respectively. R. conorii was significantly more prevalent (χ2 = 14.53; p < 0.001) in owned dogs (81.93%) than in dogs from the public shelter (60.6%), while E. canis was more prevalent (χ2 = 12.31; p < 0.001) in dogs from the public shelter (29.81%) than in owned dogs (12.26%). Coinfection with two pathogens was determined in 40 (15.44%) dogs, and the prevalence of R. conorii/E. canis (χ2 = 4.23; p < 0.05) was greater in dogs from the public shelter (20.19%) than in owned dogs (10.97%). CONCLUSION: The prevailing evidence from this study shows that dogs from Montenegro are exposed to pathogens of veterinary and public health importance. This calls for the One Health approach to sensitise the public on the risks of zoonoses from dogs and to formulate policies and strategies to mitigate their spread and safeguard public health.
Subject(s)
Boutonneuse Fever/veterinary , Dog Diseases/epidemiology , Dog Diseases/immunology , Ehrlichiosis/veterinary , Q Fever/veterinary , Animals , Antibodies, Bacterial/blood , Boutonneuse Fever/epidemiology , Boutonneuse Fever/immunology , Coxiella burnetii/isolation & purification , Dog Diseases/microbiology , Dogs , Ehrlichia canis/isolation & purification , Ehrlichiosis/epidemiology , Ehrlichiosis/immunology , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Montenegro/epidemiology , Q Fever/epidemiology , Q Fever/immunology , Rickettsia conorii/isolation & purification , Seroepidemiologic StudiesABSTRACT
Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an infectious disease of cattle caused by virus of the Capripoxvirus genus (LSDV), family Poxviridae. Until 2015, it had not appeared in the Balkans. In June 2016, LSD spread throughout Serbia. This study analyses the first LSD occurrence, epizootic features, applied diagnostic procedures and control measures in five districts in south-east Serbia (Pcinja, Jablanica, Pirot, Toplica and Nisava). In total, there were 225 LSD outbreaks reported in Serbia, out of which 189 (84%) were located in the study area. The highest number of outbreaks was registered in Pcinja district (169), where LSD was first registered. The median distance and time between the nearest previous outbreak sites were calculated (4.32 km and 9 days). The median altitude of outbreak locations was 992 m with more than 90% above 500 m (p ≤ 0.001). The average herd morbidity rate in the study area was 13.6% and the herd mortality rate was recorded only in Pcinja (0.5%) and Jablanica (1.6%) districts. Samples taken from the cattle suspected to LSD were subjected to real time PCR analysis. Out of 233 samples tested for LSDV 132 (56.7%) were positive. The LSDV genome was identified in skin nodules (85.4%), blood (72.7%) and nasal swabs (62.5%). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the LSDV strain circulating in Serbia fell within the cluster of field LSDV found worldwide. In response to the LSD epizootic, animal trade and movement were prohibited, complete stamping out, disinfection, disinsection and an entire bovine population vaccination using the homologous Neethling live attenuated vaccine (OBP, South Africa) were conducted. A month and a half after the completion of the vaccination campaign, the LSD epizootic was stopped, and no new cases have been reported since.
