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A molecular and serological survey in Taiwan to determine the true risk of babesiosis in dogs not receiving regular tick prevention.
Yang, Wen-Yuan; Reynolds, Christine; Mestek, Anton; Huang, Guo-Cheng; Lee, Chia-Jung; Wang, Shang-Lin.
Affiliation
  • Yang WY; Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC; Zoonoses Research Center and School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC.
  • Reynolds C; Assay R&D, IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., Westbrook, ME, USA.
  • Mestek A; Assay R&D, IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., Westbrook, ME, USA.
  • Huang GC; MSD Animal Health Taiwan, Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC.
  • Lee CJ; MSD Animal Health Taiwan, Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC.
  • Wang SL; Graduate Institute of Veterinary Clinical Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC; National Taiwan University Veterinary Hospital, College of Bioresources and Agriculture, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: s
Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports ; 27: 100670, 2022 01.
Article in En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35012727
Canine babesiosis is an important tick-borne disease worldwide. The prevalence varies between regions and countries; however, the incidence of tick infection is associated with the status of preventive tick control measures by the owner. To date, no studies have investigated the incidence of canine babesiosis and the condition of tick prevention in Taiwan. Therefore, the true risk of babesiosis could be underestimated in dogs that are not receiving tick prophylaxis. Samples were collected at 51 hospitals around Taiwan from 265 dogs not receiving regular tick prophylaxis. Diagnostic real-time PCR was performed, and 28 dogs (10.6%) were positive for Babesia spp., including B. gibsoni (26/28) and B. vogeli (2/28). Thirty-nine dogs (14.7%) were seropositive to B. gibsoni. Take the real-time PCR positive as the Babesia infected case, the positive and negative predictive value of serological assay were 64.1% and 98.7%, respectively. The seropositivity of B. gibsoni was significantly associated with real-time PCR positivity for Babesia spp. and vice versa (p < 0.001). The odds of seropositive representing real-time PCR positivity was 132.7 times greater than the seronegative (OR: 132.731, 95% CI 35.683-493.728). Risk factors in the population identified included: dogs with a short-haired coat; intact dogs; dogs from multi-dog households; dogs with more than 10 ticks and fleas on the skin; dogs that go outdoors more than 9 times per week; and dogs with an abnormal blood test result that included anemia, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia. However, the dogs were not tested for other co-infections, therefore, these hematological risk factors should be carefully interpreted and confirmed by further diagnostic tests. In conclusion, when dogs present with abnormal blood test results and share the risk factors listed above, babesiosis should be seriously considered and followed up with molecular and serological testing. The serological assay used in this study can provide valuable information in diagnosing babesiosis in dogs in Taiwan.
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Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Babesia / Babesiosis / Ticks / Dog Diseases Type of study: Diagnostic_studies / Etiology_studies / Prognostic_studies / Risk_factors_studies Limits: Animals Country/Region as subject: Asia Language: En Journal: Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports Year: 2022 Document type: Article Country of publication: Netherlands

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Babesia / Babesiosis / Ticks / Dog Diseases Type of study: Diagnostic_studies / Etiology_studies / Prognostic_studies / Risk_factors_studies Limits: Animals Country/Region as subject: Asia Language: En Journal: Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports Year: 2022 Document type: Article Country of publication: Netherlands