Molecular detection of Babesia spp. in dogs in Germany (2007–2020) and identification of potential risk factors for infection
Abstract Background In Europe, canine babesiosis is most frequently caused by Babesia canis and Babesia vogeli, and occasionally by Babesia gibsoni.. In Germany, B. canis is recognized as endemic. The aims of this study were to assess how often Babesia spp. infections were diagnosed in a commercial...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-06005-7 |
| _version_ | 1827770727563001856 |
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| author | Ingo Schäfer Christina Sabine Helm Georg von Samson-Himmelstjerna Jürgen Krücken Tanja Kottmann Annette Holtdirk Barbara Kohn Guy Hendrickx Cedric Marsboom Elisabeth Müller |
| author_facet | Ingo Schäfer Christina Sabine Helm Georg von Samson-Himmelstjerna Jürgen Krücken Tanja Kottmann Annette Holtdirk Barbara Kohn Guy Hendrickx Cedric Marsboom Elisabeth Müller |
| author_sort | Ingo Schäfer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background In Europe, canine babesiosis is most frequently caused by Babesia canis and Babesia vogeli, and occasionally by Babesia gibsoni.. In Germany, B. canis is recognized as endemic. The aims of this study were to assess how often Babesia spp. infections were diagnosed in a commercial laboratory in samples from dogs from Germany, and to evaluate potential risk factors for infection. Methods The database of the LABOKLIN laboratory was screened for Babesia spp.-positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for dogs for the period January 2007–December 2020. Sequencing was performed for positive tests from 2018 and 2019. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the effects of sex, season, and year of testing. Questionnaires were sent to the submitting veterinarians to obtain information on travel abroad, tick infestation, and ectoparasite prophylaxis of the respective dogs. Fisher’s exact test was used to calculate statistical significance and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results In total, 659 out of 20,914 dogs (3.2%) tested positive for Babesia spp. by PCR. Of 172 sequenced samples, B. canis was identified in 156, B. vogeli in nine, B. gibsoni in five, and B. vulpes in two. Season had a statistically significant impact on test results when summer/winter (1.6% tested positive) was compared to spring/autumn (4.7%), with peaks in April (5.2%) and October (7.4%) [P < 0.001, odds ratio (OR) = 3.16]. Sex (male 3.5%, female 2.8%; P = 0.012, OR = 1.49) and age (< 7 years old 4.0%, ≥ 7 years old 2.3%; P < 0.001, OR = 1.76) of the tested dogs also had a statistically significant effect. A statistically significant impact was demonstrated for observed tick attachment (P < 0.001, OR = 7.62) and lack of ectoparasite prophylaxis (P = 0.001, OR = 3.03). The frequency of positive Babesia spp. tests did not significantly differ between the 659 dogs that had never left Germany and the 1506 dogs with known stays abroad (P = 0.088). Conclusions The possibility of canine infection with B. canis needs to be especially taken into consideration in spring and autumn in Germany as the activity of the tick Dermacentor reticulatus, a potential vector for canine babesiosis, is highest in these seasons. Travel and importation of dogs are considered major factors associated with canine babesiosis in Germany. However, autochthonous Babesia spp. infections also occur in a considerable number of dogs in Germany. Graphical Abstract |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T12:43:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-547227a28269469b8d50407c80f70811 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T12:43:40Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-547227a28269469b8d50407c80f708112023-11-05T12:09:14ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052023-11-0116111210.1186/s13071-023-06005-7Molecular detection of Babesia spp. in dogs in Germany (2007–2020) and identification of potential risk factors for infectionIngo Schäfer0Christina Sabine Helm1Georg von Samson-Himmelstjerna2Jürgen Krücken3Tanja Kottmann4Annette Holtdirk5Barbara Kohn6Guy Hendrickx7Cedric Marsboom8Elisabeth Müller9LABOKLIN GmbH & Co. KGInstitute of Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität BerlinInstitute of Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität BerlinInstitute of Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität BerlinClinical Research Organization Dr. med. Kottmann GmbH & Co. KGClinical Research Organization Dr. med. Kottmann GmbH & Co. KGSmall Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität BerlinR&D Department, AVIA GISR&D Department, AVIA GISLABOKLIN GmbH & Co. KGAbstract Background In Europe, canine babesiosis is most frequently caused by Babesia canis and Babesia vogeli, and occasionally by Babesia gibsoni.. In Germany, B. canis is recognized as endemic. The aims of this study were to assess how often Babesia spp. infections were diagnosed in a commercial laboratory in samples from dogs from Germany, and to evaluate potential risk factors for infection. Methods The database of the LABOKLIN laboratory was screened for Babesia spp.-positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for dogs for the period January 2007–December 2020. Sequencing was performed for positive tests from 2018 and 2019. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the effects of sex, season, and year of testing. Questionnaires were sent to the submitting veterinarians to obtain information on travel abroad, tick infestation, and ectoparasite prophylaxis of the respective dogs. Fisher’s exact test was used to calculate statistical significance and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results In total, 659 out of 20,914 dogs (3.2%) tested positive for Babesia spp. by PCR. Of 172 sequenced samples, B. canis was identified in 156, B. vogeli in nine, B. gibsoni in five, and B. vulpes in two. Season had a statistically significant impact on test results when summer/winter (1.6% tested positive) was compared to spring/autumn (4.7%), with peaks in April (5.2%) and October (7.4%) [P < 0.001, odds ratio (OR) = 3.16]. Sex (male 3.5%, female 2.8%; P = 0.012, OR = 1.49) and age (< 7 years old 4.0%, ≥ 7 years old 2.3%; P < 0.001, OR = 1.76) of the tested dogs also had a statistically significant effect. A statistically significant impact was demonstrated for observed tick attachment (P < 0.001, OR = 7.62) and lack of ectoparasite prophylaxis (P = 0.001, OR = 3.03). The frequency of positive Babesia spp. tests did not significantly differ between the 659 dogs that had never left Germany and the 1506 dogs with known stays abroad (P = 0.088). Conclusions The possibility of canine infection with B. canis needs to be especially taken into consideration in spring and autumn in Germany as the activity of the tick Dermacentor reticulatus, a potential vector for canine babesiosis, is highest in these seasons. Travel and importation of dogs are considered major factors associated with canine babesiosis in Germany. However, autochthonous Babesia spp. infections also occur in a considerable number of dogs in Germany. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-06005-7Canine babesiosisTickDermacentor reticulatusVector-borne disease |
| spellingShingle | Ingo Schäfer Christina Sabine Helm Georg von Samson-Himmelstjerna Jürgen Krücken Tanja Kottmann Annette Holtdirk Barbara Kohn Guy Hendrickx Cedric Marsboom Elisabeth Müller Molecular detection of Babesia spp. in dogs in Germany (2007–2020) and identification of potential risk factors for infection Parasites & Vectors Canine babesiosis Tick Dermacentor reticulatus Vector-borne disease |
| title | Molecular detection of Babesia spp. in dogs in Germany (2007–2020) and identification of potential risk factors for infection |
| title_full | Molecular detection of Babesia spp. in dogs in Germany (2007–2020) and identification of potential risk factors for infection |
| title_fullStr | Molecular detection of Babesia spp. in dogs in Germany (2007–2020) and identification of potential risk factors for infection |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular detection of Babesia spp. in dogs in Germany (2007–2020) and identification of potential risk factors for infection |
| title_short | Molecular detection of Babesia spp. in dogs in Germany (2007–2020) and identification of potential risk factors for infection |
| title_sort | molecular detection of babesia spp in dogs in germany 2007 2020 and identification of potential risk factors for infection |
| topic | Canine babesiosis Tick Dermacentor reticulatus Vector-borne disease |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-06005-7 |
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