Molecular investigation of tick-borne pathogens in dogs from Luanda, Angola

Luís Cardoso*, Ana Cristina Oliveira, Sara Granada, Yaarit Nachum-Biala, Matan Gilad, Ana Patrícia Lopes, Sérgio Ramalho Sousa, Hugo Vilhena, Gad Baneth

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish
Article number252
JournalParasites and Vectors
Volume9
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 10 May 2016

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Cardoso et al.

Keywords

  • Anaplasma platys
  • Angola
  • Babesia gibsoni
  • Babesia vogeli
  • Canine vector-borne diseases
  • Dogs
  • Ehrlichia canis
  • Hepatozoon canis
  • Luanda
  • Polymerase chain reaction

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