Survey of selected tick-borne diseases in dogs in Finland
Abstract Background Due to climate changes during the last decades, ticks have progressively spread into higher latitudes in northern Europe. Although some tick borne diseases are known to be endemic in Finland, to date there is limited information with regard to the prevalence of these infections i...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2014-06-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-7-285 |
| _version_ | 1827933667140304896 |
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| author | Cristina Pérez Vera Suvi Kapiainen Sami Junnikkala Kirsi Aaltonen Thomas Spillmann Olli Vapalahti |
| author_facet | Cristina Pérez Vera Suvi Kapiainen Sami Junnikkala Kirsi Aaltonen Thomas Spillmann Olli Vapalahti |
| author_sort | Cristina Pérez Vera |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Due to climate changes during the last decades, ticks have progressively spread into higher latitudes in northern Europe. Although some tick borne diseases are known to be endemic in Finland, to date there is limited information with regard to the prevalence of these infections in companion animals. We determined the antibody and DNA prevalence of the following organisms in randomly selected client-owned and clinically healthy hunting dogs living in Finland: Ehrlichia canis (Ec), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Ap), Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) and Bartonella. Methods Anti-Ap, −Bb and –Ec antibodies were determined in 340 Finnish pet dogs and 50 healthy hunting dogs using the 4DX Snap®Test (IDEXX Laboratories). In addition, PCRs for the detection of Ap and Bartonella DNA were performed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify risk factors associated with seropositivity to a vector borne agent. Results The overall seroprevalence was highest for Ap (5.3%), followed by Bb (2.9%), and Ec (0.3%). Seropositivities to Ap and Bb were significantly higher in the Åland Islands (p <0.001), with prevalence of Ap and Bb antibodies of 45 and 20%, respectively. In healthy hunting dogs, seropositivity rates of 4% (2/50) and 2% (1/50) were recorded for Ap and Bb, respectively. One client-owned dog and one hunting dog, both healthy, were infected with Ap as determined by PCR, while being seronegative. For Bartonella spp., none of the dogs tested was positive by PCR. Conclusions This study represents the first data of seroprevalence to tick borne diseases in the Finnish dog population. Our results indicate that dogs in Finland are exposed to vector borne diseases, with Ap being the most seroprevalent of the diseases tested, followed by Bb. Almost 50% of dogs living in Åland Islands were Ap seropositive. This finding suggests the possibility of a high incidence of Ap infection in humans in this region. Knowing the distribution of seroprevalence in dogs may help predict the pattern of a tick borne disease and may aid in diagnostic and prevention efforts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:27:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f6bc1f793ee64346a889eef768f70f3b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:27:58Z |
| publishDate | 2014-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-f6bc1f793ee64346a889eef768f70f3b2023-06-04T11:16:57ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052014-06-01711910.1186/1756-3305-7-285Survey of selected tick-borne diseases in dogs in FinlandCristina Pérez Vera0Suvi Kapiainen1Sami Junnikkala2Kirsi Aaltonen3Thomas Spillmann4Olli Vapalahti5Haartman Institute, Department of Virology, University of HelsinkiHaartman Institute, Department of Virology, University of HelsinkiDepartment of Veterinary Biosciences, University of HelsinkiHaartman Institute, Department of Virology, University of HelsinkiDepartment of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, University of HelsinkiHaartman Institute, Department of Virology, University of HelsinkiAbstract Background Due to climate changes during the last decades, ticks have progressively spread into higher latitudes in northern Europe. Although some tick borne diseases are known to be endemic in Finland, to date there is limited information with regard to the prevalence of these infections in companion animals. We determined the antibody and DNA prevalence of the following organisms in randomly selected client-owned and clinically healthy hunting dogs living in Finland: Ehrlichia canis (Ec), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Ap), Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) and Bartonella. Methods Anti-Ap, −Bb and –Ec antibodies were determined in 340 Finnish pet dogs and 50 healthy hunting dogs using the 4DX Snap®Test (IDEXX Laboratories). In addition, PCRs for the detection of Ap and Bartonella DNA were performed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify risk factors associated with seropositivity to a vector borne agent. Results The overall seroprevalence was highest for Ap (5.3%), followed by Bb (2.9%), and Ec (0.3%). Seropositivities to Ap and Bb were significantly higher in the Åland Islands (p <0.001), with prevalence of Ap and Bb antibodies of 45 and 20%, respectively. In healthy hunting dogs, seropositivity rates of 4% (2/50) and 2% (1/50) were recorded for Ap and Bb, respectively. One client-owned dog and one hunting dog, both healthy, were infected with Ap as determined by PCR, while being seronegative. For Bartonella spp., none of the dogs tested was positive by PCR. Conclusions This study represents the first data of seroprevalence to tick borne diseases in the Finnish dog population. Our results indicate that dogs in Finland are exposed to vector borne diseases, with Ap being the most seroprevalent of the diseases tested, followed by Bb. Almost 50% of dogs living in Åland Islands were Ap seropositive. This finding suggests the possibility of a high incidence of Ap infection in humans in this region. Knowing the distribution of seroprevalence in dogs may help predict the pattern of a tick borne disease and may aid in diagnostic and prevention efforts.https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-7-285AnaplasmosisBorreliosisBartonellaDogsEpidemiology |
| spellingShingle | Cristina Pérez Vera Suvi Kapiainen Sami Junnikkala Kirsi Aaltonen Thomas Spillmann Olli Vapalahti Survey of selected tick-borne diseases in dogs in Finland Parasites & Vectors Anaplasmosis Borreliosis Bartonella Dogs Epidemiology |
| title | Survey of selected tick-borne diseases in dogs in Finland |
| title_full | Survey of selected tick-borne diseases in dogs in Finland |
| title_fullStr | Survey of selected tick-borne diseases in dogs in Finland |
| title_full_unstemmed | Survey of selected tick-borne diseases in dogs in Finland |
| title_short | Survey of selected tick-borne diseases in dogs in Finland |
| title_sort | survey of selected tick borne diseases in dogs in finland |
| topic | Anaplasmosis Borreliosis Bartonella Dogs Epidemiology |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-7-285 |
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