TY - JOUR
T1 - Molecular investigation of tick-borne pathogens in dogs from Luanda, Angola
AU - Cardoso, Luís
AU - Oliveira, Ana Cristina
AU - Granada, Sara
AU - Nachum-Biala, Yaarit
AU - Gilad, Matan
AU - Lopes, Ana Patrícia
AU - Sousa, Sérgio Ramalho
AU - Vilhena, Hugo
AU - Baneth, Gad
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Cardoso et al.
PY - 2016/5/10
Y1 - 2016/5/10
N2 - Background: No molecular data have been available on tick-borne pathogens that infect dogs from Angola. The occurrence of agents from the genera Anaplasma, Babesia, Ehrlichia and Hepatozoon was assessed in 103 domestic dogs from Luanda, by means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequence analysis. Results: Forty-six dogs (44.7 %) were positive for at least one pathogen. Twenty-one animals (20.4 %) were found infected with Anaplasma platys, 18 (17.5 %) with Hepatozoon canis, six (5.8 %) with Ehrlichia canis, six (5.8 %) with Babesia vogeli, one (1.0 %) with Babesia gibsoni and one (1.0 %) with an unnamed Babesia sp. The molecular frequency of single infections taken together was 37.9 % and that of co-infections with several combinations of two pathogens accounted for 6.8 % of the animals. Conclusions: This is the first report of A. platys, B. vogeli, B. gibsoni, E. canis and H. canis infections diagnosed by PCR in domestic dogs from Angola. The present study provides evidence that dogs in Luanda are widely exposed to, and at risk of becoming infected with, tick-borne pathogens. Further investigation is needed, including a larger number of animals, canine populations from other cities and provinces of the country, as well as potential vector ticks, aiming at better characterizing and controlling canine vector-borne diseases in Angola.
AB - Background: No molecular data have been available on tick-borne pathogens that infect dogs from Angola. The occurrence of agents from the genera Anaplasma, Babesia, Ehrlichia and Hepatozoon was assessed in 103 domestic dogs from Luanda, by means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequence analysis. Results: Forty-six dogs (44.7 %) were positive for at least one pathogen. Twenty-one animals (20.4 %) were found infected with Anaplasma platys, 18 (17.5 %) with Hepatozoon canis, six (5.8 %) with Ehrlichia canis, six (5.8 %) with Babesia vogeli, one (1.0 %) with Babesia gibsoni and one (1.0 %) with an unnamed Babesia sp. The molecular frequency of single infections taken together was 37.9 % and that of co-infections with several combinations of two pathogens accounted for 6.8 % of the animals. Conclusions: This is the first report of A. platys, B. vogeli, B. gibsoni, E. canis and H. canis infections diagnosed by PCR in domestic dogs from Angola. The present study provides evidence that dogs in Luanda are widely exposed to, and at risk of becoming infected with, tick-borne pathogens. Further investigation is needed, including a larger number of animals, canine populations from other cities and provinces of the country, as well as potential vector ticks, aiming at better characterizing and controlling canine vector-borne diseases in Angola.
KW - Anaplasma platys
KW - Angola
KW - Babesia gibsoni
KW - Babesia vogeli
KW - Canine vector-borne diseases
KW - Dogs
KW - Ehrlichia canis
KW - Hepatozoon canis
KW - Luanda
KW - Polymerase chain reaction
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84969245761&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s13071-016-1536-z
DO - 10.1186/s13071-016-1536-z
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C2 - 27160839
AN - SCOPUS:84969245761
SN - 1756-3305
VL - 9
JO - Parasites and Vectors
JF - Parasites and Vectors
IS - 1
M1 - 252
ER -